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Innovation

Waterloo research chair working to improve drug therapy for the elderly and Alzheimer’s patients

WATERLOO - The University of Waterloo’s third Schlegel research chair is a leading expert on Alzheimer’s disease whose work will contribute to the safe and appropriate use of medication among the elderly.

Dr. Carlos Rojas-Fernandez is the Schlegel research chair in geriatric pharmacotherapy at the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging. He is an expert in the drug treatment of Alzheimer’s patients.

“Waterloo is fortunate to benefit from the generosity and vision of former Waterloo professor Ron Schlegel, who established the Schlegel research chairs,” said FeridunHamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo. “Dr. Carlos Rojas-Fernandez is one of few experts in his specialized field, and we are honoured that he is conducting research at Waterloo that will lead to improvements in the care and treatment of our aging population.”

Rojas-Fernandez studies the effects that certain drugs have on seniors in general, and which medications may worsen symptoms of dementia. He says medications that younger adults can take without a problem can bring on an adverse reaction in the aged, either because of medical conditions or the fact that older bodies respond differently, often with fatal consequences.

“A fall can be deadly for an elderly person, either directly or as a result of complications from that accident. We already know whichmedications can contribute to falls among older people. One of the studies I am leading looks at years’ worth of data to see how many falls may have involved medication as a risk factor,” said Rojas-Fernandez.

He will host a free public lecture next week called Medications and Alzheimer’s Disease to discuss appropriate medication use in the elderly, provide examples of medications that those suffering from dementia should not use and highlight current treatment options for Alzheimer’s patients. It is for a general audience and will take place at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy at 10 Victoria St. S. in Kitchener at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 31, the last day of Alzheimer’s awareness month.

“Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia touch the lives of so many of us. And the numbers are certain to multiply over the coming years as our society ages,” he said. That’s one of the reasons why it’s so important to be informed. We need to consider not only those with Alzheimer’s, but also their families, their caregivers and their friends.”

Originally from Halifax, Rojas-Fernandez is an assistant professor at the School of Pharmacy at Waterloo. He earned his BSc in pharmacy from Dalhousie University. He practiced as a pharmacist for four years, and later earned a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Rojas-Fernandez completed postdoctoral training as a clinical research fellow in geriatric pharmacotherapy in the Division of Geriatric Medicine of Dalhousie University. He was the founding director of the Geriatric Pharmacy Residency program at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Centre, and has worked as senior medical science liaison in the Neuroscience Research and Development division of Bristol Myers Squibb. His research hasappeared in several key publications and peer-reviewed journals.