Brain, heart conditions could be treated as a one functioning unit, uOttawa says
A group of researchers from more than 45 academic institutions across Canada, including the University of Ottawa (uOttawa) came together to detect, treat and prevent brain and heart conditions.
The research is centred at uOttawa. It is called Brain-Heart Interconnectome and aims at looking at the heart and the brain as a one functioning unit, Ruth Slack, director of uOttawa told CTV Morning Live.
"Brain-heart diseases is one of the biggest challenges of our time. In Canada, one in three people will die from brain or heart condition. And the cost is over a $55 billion a year. We really need to do something different. Something really has to change. The way we do research," Slack said.
The research has shown that the brain and the heart are deeply connected to each other, Slack said.
For example, if something in the heart goes wrong, such as heart attack, something wrong happens to the brain, such as a stroke, depression, anxiety or dementia, she explains.
"So, they’re constantly feeding back on each other," she explained.
And to understand the emotional and physical impact of a heart or a brain condition, the researchers are also working with “patient partners” who have that experience to add to the table, Ann-Marie Julien, patient partner, told CTV Morning Live.
The public can attend the university's upcoming state of the science summit at uOttawa, where researchers will be sharing their findings. The summit is set to take place June 12-14.
The research is supported by a $109 million grant from the Canada Research Excellence Fund.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6930794.1718830568!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Calls for change to B.C.'s child protection system after disturbing case of neglect
Is B.C.'s child protection system outdated and in need of a major overhaul? The province's representative for children and youth believes so, and that 'a new model' is needed.
Ont. mother loses $6K during Facebook marketplace transaction
An Ontario woman is sharing her story after she lost $6,000 by clicking a fraudulent link disguised to look like an e-transfer during a Facebook Marketplace transaction.
Rapper Travis Scott arrested for disorderly intoxication, trespassing early Thursday
American rapper Travis Scott, whose legal name is Jacques Bermon Webster, was arrested and booked into Miami-Dade County Jail early Thursday morning, county jail records show.
Manitoba hit with five tornadoes last week
Tornado season entered Manitoba with a bang last week.
Train collision in Chile kills at least 2 people and injures 9 others
At least two people were killed and nine others injured Thursday when a train full of passengers collided head-on with another train on a test run just outside the capital of Chile, where fatal railway crashes remain rare.
Portion of Vancouver tenants spending half their income on rent: report
The path to homeownership in Vancouver is becoming increasingly out-of-reach for many renters.
'You can literally see the sculptor's handwork': War memorial restored as Newfoundlanders reflect on Second World War's toll
Historic monuments adorning the National War Memorial in downtown St. John’s, N.L. are being restored to their full glory this week ahead of Memorial Day ceremonies.
Senators approve bill to fight foreign interference after voting down amendment
The Senate has passed a government bill intended to help deter, investigate and punish foreign interference.
Gunman in Toronto shooting was not evil, but 'broken' by fraud dispute: wife
The wife of the gunman in Monday's double murder-suicide in North York says she doesn't consider her husband an evil person, but one who was 'broken' by a lengthy fraud dispute that saw their family savings drained.