Grant: Operating Grant

Recent research indicates a high prevalence of co-occurring addiction, mental and physical illness in people living in marginal housing such as single room occupancy hotels. The standardized mortality rate is also nearly five times higher than a Canadian sample matched for age and gender. Nearly half of people studied have a neurological illness, three-quarters a mental illness. These illnesses, especially if untreated, may accelerate aging, and result in considerable secondary disability. The present proposal seeks to investigate risk factors for co-occurring illness, and perform detailed clinical evaluations of outcomes, using magnetic resonance imaging and neuropsychological testing. The results will help identify targets for early intervention to prevent disability, and aid rehabilitation.