Novel methods in computational anatomy: Quantifying structure and function via multidimensional analysis of cross sectional and longitudinal MR scans

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The escalating social and personal burdens of mental illnesses and CVDs on health and productivity are staggering. CVD remains the largest killer in the western world, mental illness accounts for 15% of the entire disease burden- an impact greater than the sum of all cancers. While 2% of Canadians between 60-74 years of age suffer from Alzheimer's and related dementias, one in three Canadians over the age of 85 are afflicted. By 2011, the number of new dementia cases per year will rise to 111,000 and by 2025 over one million Canadians are expected to suffer from Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Parkinson's disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, affects approximately 100,000 Canadians, costs the Canadian health care system approximately $2.5B annually, in addition to the tremendous toll on patients and their families. As the baby boomers age, the disproportionate number of dementia cases and CVDs will create a 'tsunami' that will threaten our medical system in the years to come.