Bidirectional associations between sleep and stress in everyday life
Inadequate sleep (such as poor sleep quality, short duration, and trouble falling asleep or staying asleep) can lead to greater risks for developing chronic conditions and for premature death. Inadequate sleep also influences daily experiences of stress, and vice versa. The UPLIFT Health Lab seeks to understand how sleep and stress are related. We are […]
Daily stress and cognitive performance
The Daily Stress and Cognition project examines the dynamics of stress and cognitive performance across the adult lifespan. We are particularly interested in whether health behaviours, such as physical activity, may buffer against the effects of stress on cognition. Utilizing daily surveys, physical activity and sleep measurements, and cognitive tasks, this study evaluates how daily experiences […]
Everyday discrimination, emotions, and health across adulthood
Everyday discrimination, such as being treated unfairly based on one’s age, is prevalent in daily life. People who experience everyday discrimination more frequently tend to have poorer mental and physical health, including biomarkers of accelerated aging, compared to those who are exposed to less discrimination. These associations persist even after accounting for sociodemographic factors, such as […]
Influence of the built environment on sleep quality in adults
A study, led by Dr. Parveen Bhatti’s group, is investigating the influence of the built environment on sleep disruption in the BC Generations Project (BCGP). Dr. Bhatti is the Director of the BCGP, which is a cohort of nearly 30,000 BC participants who volunteer their health information and biological samples to help researchers learn more […]
Aging In Place Research Cluster
The dynamic interdisciplinary Aging In Place research cluster at UBC Okanagan has set out to better define what aging in place means to Canadians; what are the perspectives of older adults as they relate to physical, emotional, social, and cognitive supports? A sequential mixed methods approach coupled to an in-depth critical analysis of focus groups […]
Telepresence Robot Project
The UBC IDEAlab, an interdisciplinary team led by Dr. Lillian Hung, is exploring the feasibility of using telepresence robots to support virtual family visits in long-term care. The project applies a Collaborative Action Research (CAR) approach to work with stakeholders (frontline leaders, staff, patients, and family partners) to identify facilitators and barriers to implementation. Members involved: Dr. Lillian Hung, Nazia […]
Diet and the microbiome in Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is a common neurodegenerative disorder with increasing worldwide prevalence. A number of genetic and environmental factors are thought to contribute to the etiology and progression of Parkinson’s disease. A common condition experienced by people with Parkinson’s disease is gastrointestinal problems, including constipation. There are also known changes to the microbiota (bacteria) in the […]
The impact of sleep apnea and insomnia on epigenetic age acceleration
Reduced quality and quantity of sleep, which can occur in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia, may cause premature aging. This is believed to occur through inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways. By analyzing a large cohort of patients from the sleep clinic, the Ayas and Kobor Labs are investigating whether the severity of obstructive […]
Investigating epigenetic associations in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging
The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is a large, national, long-term study that is following approximately 50,000 individuals, who were between the ages of 45 and 85 when recruited, for at least 20 years. The CLSA aims to understand how changing biological, medical, psychological, social, lifestyle and economic aspects of people’s lives impact health […]
Health inequities, socioeconomic status and impact on multiple sclerosis outcomes
The relationship between socioeconomic status and death in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is not entirely understood. Previous studies have shown that economic disparities have been associated with acquiring disability and possibly with the rate of MS. In a large study of people with MS living in British Columbia, Canada, the Tremlett Laboratory is investigating the […]