
News
Welcome to our news page! Here you will find the latest news and events from our research chair.
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31 janvier 2025
Cinq découvertes qui redonnent espoir face au cancer!
À l’Institut de recherche sur le cancer de l’Université de Sherbrooke (IRCUS), la science progresse avec optimisme. 🔬Découvrez comment l'IRCUS repoussent les limites du dépistage et du traitement du cancer pour transformer des vies.
De plus, la Pre. Eléonor Riesco, co-titulaire de la Chaire de Recherche pour un Vieillissement en Santé, ainsi que plusieurs de ses étudiants, travaillent sur les bienfaits de l’exercice chez les personnes atteintes de cancer.🏃🏽♀️ Consultez leur travaux dans la section publication du site web!
Un grand bravo à tous les chercheurs de l’IRCUS pour leurs recherches inspirantes! 🔰

30 janvier 2025
La JES: Une belle réussite !
La Journée des études supérieures (JES) a une fois de plus rassemblé la communauté de la Faculté des sciences de l’activité physique, et ce, avec brio. 👏
Un immense bravo aux étudiants de la Chaire de Recherche pour un Vieillissement en Santé pour leur engagement et leurs contributions remarquables dans l’organisation de cette journée. Cet événement met chaque année en lumière l’importance de la recherche, le talent émergent et l’impact des études supérieures en sciences de l’activité physique. 🔬📚
Félicitations aux récipiendaires pour leur belle réussite!🎖️✨

20 janvier 2025
Building Muscle After 50: Yes, It's Possible!
Professor Isabelle Dionne, co-holder of the Research Chair for Healthy Aging, and Marie-Noëlle Fontaine share valuable tips for staying fit and preserving muscle mass after the age of 50.
✅ Practical tips:
Prioritize resistance exercises, such as weights or resistance bands, to stimulate your muscles.
Pair it with a diet rich in protein to support recovery and muscle growth.
Don't forget to move daily: consistency is key!
For more information, check out this article published in L'Actualité.
Because it's never too late to take care of your health! 💪

6 janvier 2025
Jasmine Paquin in La Presse
We all know that the new year often rhymes with resolutions . In an article published in "La Presse", Jasmine Paquin, PhD candidate at the Research Chair for Healthy Aging, warns us regarding continuous sport challenges, without taking any breaks. She reminds us of the importance to plan rest days to promote recovery and sustain these physical activity changes in the long term.

5 janvier 2025
When Quebec Universities Unite for ScientificInnovation
Congratulations to all of the research teams from Quebec universities who are working hand in hand to advance science and contribute to societal progress. 🙌 The Université de Sherbrooke is a leader in scientific research in the province of Quebec, and our laboratory is no exception.
One of our publications was selected by La Presse Plus as one of the 10 most notable medical research publications of 2024! 🧠💪
In collaboration with McGill University and other universities, our team studied 22 individuals in their fifties who were bedridden for 14 days, half of whom exercised for one hour per day. The active group showed no adverse effects, while those who did not exercise experienced muscle atrophy and a decrease in their cardiovascular and metabolic capacity. To read the scientific article, follow the link: https://karger.com/ger/article/69/11/1284/863007/Impact-of-14-Days-of-Bed-Rest-in-Older-Adults-and
The Research Chair for Healthy Aging is proud to support not only innovative research but also the mobilization of knowledge to inspire positive changes in our society. 🌱📖

21 décembre 2024
🎉🎓 Congratulations to Katherine Boisvert-Vigneault for obtaining her PhD in Gerontology!🏅
Katherine successfully completed her thesis titled: “Les effets à long terme d’un programme d’entraînement supervisé sur la pratique d’activité physique des femmes aînées – Application de la théorie de la salutogenèse.” 💪👵 Her work contributes to the support of an active lifestyle for older women.
Under the supervision of Pre Isabelle Dionne, Co-holder of the Research Chair for an Healthy Aging, and Pre Suzanne Garon, Katherine discovered five personal resources that kinesiologists can use to encourage physical activity among older women! 🧠🏃♀️.

12 décembre 2024
An inspiring training day for the Research Chair on Healthy Aging! 🌟
Last Friday, Professor Eléonor Riesco, co-holder of the Research Chair on Healthy Aging, along with several students, participated in a training day focused on the theme: Diversification of knowledge transfer approaches. 📚
💡 Considering the mandate of the Research Chair on Healthy Aging, which focuses on knowledge transfer, this day was incredibly enriching. It provided the scientific community with better tools to mobilize knowledge in a more creative and accessible way, particularly through the use of comics. 📖👀
👏Thank you to the Population Aging Unifying Theme of the University of Sherbrooke and the Research Center on Aging (CdRV) for this insightful workshop.
👉 Follow the Research Chair on Healthy Aging to discover our new scientific outreach initiatives!

2 décembre 2024
2024 Annual Congress of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP)
The Research Chair on Healthy Aging was well represented at CSEP 2024! 🇨🇦🔬
This year, several students from the Chair had the opportunity to present their research findings at the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) conference, held in Montreal. 🎤📊 Congratulations to René Maréchal, Jasmine Paquin, Laurence Poirier, Renaud Tremblay, Sara Plante, Geneviève Marcotte, and Catherine Desjardins for their presentations! The chair is proud to support their success and actively contribute to the transfer of scientific knowledge. 📚
💡 The conference fostered numerous enriching scientific exchanges and opened the door to potential collaborations between researchers across Canada. 🤝🍁
📢 Stay tuned! The results of the research presented will soon be published and disseminated for the benefit of a wider audience! 🤓

27 novembre 2024
Congrès International Francophone en Activité Physique (CIFAP) 2024
Several students, along with alumni from the Research Chair on Healthy Aging, participated in the 1st edition of the Congrès International Francophone en Activité Physique (CIFAP)! 🌍💪
🎙️ Professor Isabelle Dionne was also present as a guest speaker to discuss the importance of physical activity in the prevention and management of chronic diseases. 🏋️♀️🩺
🏆 Special congratulations to René Maréchal, who won the best presentation award in the PhD/Post-Doctoral category! 🎉👏
This congress highlights the quality of science in the french community and emphasizes the importance of supporting such initiatives. 🌟 The Research Chair on Healthy Aging is proud to contribute to the advancement of science and knowledge exchange! 📚🤝

21 novembre 2024
Congratulations to Philippe St-Martin! 🎉
PhD student co-supervised by Dr. Isabelle Dionne (University of Sherbrooke) and Dr. Audrey Bergouignan (University of Strasbourg) Philippe presented the first results of his thesis at the Canadian Space Health Research Symposium at Western University (Ontario, Canada). 🌌📚
His work focuses on alterations in energy metabolism in the context of extreme inactivity and sedentary behavior, a key topic for:
✨ Astronauts health in space
🌍 Health challenges on Earth, particularly obesity and metabolic syndrome.
🙏 Thanks to the Quebec Network for Research on Aging (RQRV), the Canadian Space Health Research Network (CSHRnet), the Faculty of Physical Activity Sciences, and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) for their essential support!

11 novembre 2024
Is it necessary to gain muscle mass to improve blood sugar management with exercise ? 🤔
Researchers from the University of Sherbrooke, including professors Isabelle Dionne and Eléonor Riesco, co-holders of the Research Chair on Healthy Aging, have tackled a critical question in the field of blood sugar management: Is gaining muscle mass necessary to improve one’s blood sugar control with resistance exercise? 🤷♂️
🌍 Many individuals and healthcare professionals think that increasing the size of your muscles is a prerequisite in order to improve blood sugar control. This belief comes from the fact that nearly 80% of blood sugar after a meal is absorbed by our muscles. Therefore, it could seem obvious that increasing muscle mass would naturally improve blood sugar control.
However, other scientific evidence, including work by Professors Dionne and Riesco, show that the relationship between muscle mass and blood sugar control is not so straightforward. 🔍 To answer this question, the researchers conducted a meta-analysis, meaning they reviewed and compiled the existing scientific literature on the subject 📚. They specifically looked at studies measuring gains in muscle before and after a strength training program, as well as changes in blood sugar control.
📊 In total, 33 studies were included in this work. In general, strength training does promote increased muscle mass 💪 and improved blood sugar control 🩸. Nothing surprising here! However, there no direct relationship was between these two changes. even though we might expect those who gain the most muscle to improve their blood sugar the most, this was not the case here! ❌
In summary: Strength training is one of the keys to managing blood sugar, whether you gain muscle or not! 🏋🏽♀️ The important thing is to stay active daily and choose a physical activity that suits you!

4 novembre 2024
Our 2024 training workshop : a great success!
A huge thank you to the more than 60 participants who attended our conference on fall prevention in older adults!
Your active participation during the Q&A sessions and the fruitful discussions among professionals from various organizations made this day a true success. We were able to exchange on the challenges faced by exercise professionnals in daily practice, identify areas for improvement, and discuss what makes our work so rewarding with this population. 🌟
A special thank you to our exceptional speakers: Dr. Émilie Breton, Professor Isabelle Dionne, and Ms. Stéphanie Jecker, for their inspiring presentations.
Stay tuned, as we have more equally captivating training sessions planned in the coming months!

1 novembre 2024
Seasons and Climate Change: Challenges for Physical Activity in Seniors 🌿
Seasonal temperature variations and extreme weather events are well known barriers to physical activity among many of us, including seniors. Whether it's in summer with scorching temperatures or in winter with ice and cold, what can be done to remain safe while still being active?
Professor Isabelle Dionne, Co-holder of the Research Chair on Healthy Aging, discusses this issue and offers several solutions, such as:
🌞 Engaging in physical activity early in the morning or in shaded areas during hot days.
💧 Staying well-hydrated and taking regular breaks to avoid discomfort.
❄️ Using crampons and walking poles in winter to reduce the risk of falling.

24 octobre 2024
Imminent departure for the Everest-AGE research project!
Exciting research project ahead! Professor Eléonor Riesco, co-holder of the Research Chair on Healthy Aging, and her collaborators will have the incredible opportunity to accompany a group of seniors during the trek leading to Mount Everest base camp (5300 meters of altitude), starting on November 1st!
Why? To promote a positive vision of aging: this is the goal of this action-research project, which focuses on the physical and cognitive abilities of aging individuals, but also – and most importantly – their ability to adapt to new experiences and challenges.
For more information, visit the link below.

11 octobre 2024
Let's celebrate 25 years of Active Aging Canada!
Since 1999, Active Aging Canada has partnered with its members to encourage adults and seniors across the country to adopt an active lifestyle, preserve their well-being, and maintain their independence. Through the promotion of physical activity and a philosophy of active living, we continue to foster healthy and dynamic aging!
Our goals:
- Promote communication and collaboration between our members and organizations dedicated to active aging.
- Transform scientific discoveries into practical tools to improve the lives of seniors.
- Prioritize active aging in health and social policies through impactful key messages.
The Research Chair on Healthy Aging shares this vision and supports similar goals, promoting a future where every senior can age with dignity, health, and independence.

Contact us
Centre de recherche sur le vieillissement Hôpital et centre d’hébergement d’Youville CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS
1036, rue Belvédère Sud Sherbrooke (QC), J1H 4C4
819-780-2220 ext. 45311