Arlene Astell
PhD, BSc (Hons)
Arlene Astell is Director of the Dementia Aging Technology Engagement (DATE) lab at KITE, University Health Network, Toronto and Full Professor of Neurocognitive Diseases at the University of Reading, UK. She is also a Senior Scientist at Samsung AI Centre where she leads the wellbeing lab. Arlene has more than 20 years of experience developing and evaluating interventions to support people to age as well as possible, including those living with dementia. in AGE-WELL 1.0, Arlene was work package lead for User Needs and in AGE-WELL 2.0 she is thought leader for the Staying Connected Challenge Area. Arlene is also Co-PI of Cog@work, an AGE-WELL CRP examining the policy and practice ecosystem around people who develop dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment whilst still in the workforce. Arlene is also part of the CCNA (Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration and Aging2.0) where she is working on technology-based non-pharmacological interventions and supporting rural and remote communities. She is also Canadian lead for two international projects: MCI@work, examining the experience of individuals who develop MCI or dementia whilst still working and RESILIEN-T, developing a home support system for people with memory complaints.