Kaitlyn Roland

Dr. Kaitlyn Roland is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Centre on Aging, University of Victoria. Her research is truly interdisciplinary, integrating physiology, gerontology, and population health research to improve well-being in all persons living with neurological disorders.

Dr. Roland completed her PhD at the University of British Columbia (Okanagan, 2012). Her research aimed to support independent daily function in Parkinson’s disease. Her work in this field has helped understand Parkinson-related changes to muscle activity, and consequences for physical function and frailty, especially in females.

Her most recent work has focused on categorizing the physical, cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms that influence well-being in dementia caregivers. She is interested in whether caregiver well-being is influenced by moderator variables, such as symptom expression and prognosis patterns, in Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Parkinson-associated Dementia. This work aims to support independent living, reduce distress and healthcare utilization, which may have significant public health implications.