Discover how Dr. Zahra Moussavi's breakthrough research is addressing the effects of dementia, restoring dignity and connection to Manitoba families.
Play Story Read MoreWhen Carol Remmert thinks of her father Aron, she remembers the snow castles he built - magical structures crafted with custom tools and endless imagination.
But when dementia set in, the creativity and connection began to fade. Speech slowed, balance faltered, and Aron seemed to disappear into a fog.
Carol discovered the work of Dr. Zahra Moussavi, a professional engineer and biomedical professor at the University of Manitoba, who has pioneered a non-pharmaceutical approach to treating dementia using personalized electrical brain stimulation paired with cognitive exercises.
"More than 90% of our participants improve," Dr. Moussavi explains. "And we've seen those improvements last up to two months."
Aron Loewen with Dr. Zahra Moussavi, P.Eng.
Her research is deeply personal, inspired by her own mother's battle with Alzheimer's.
"Every patient who walks through our doors feels like my own parents," she says.
Carol enrolled Aron in the program two years ago. The results were life-changing. "He went from being vague and almost non-verbal," says Carol, "to telling stories and making jokes again. I felt like I had my dad back."
Even Aron's physical strength improved - he traded his walker for hiking poles and reconnected with the world around him.
The man behind the snow castles: Aron Loewen.
Dr. Moussavi's story is a powerful reminder that engineering is more than technology - it's humanity in action.
"There are so many exciting things happening in Manitoba because of engineers," Carol says. "They're helping us live better, longer, more meaningful lives."
For families like Carol's, the impact is profound: TIME. DIGNITY. CONNECTION.
Carol Remmert, Aron Loewen, and Dr. Zahra Moussavi, P.Eng.
Aron's Story
The journey of a father reconnecting with his world.
Zahra's Story
Meet the engineer pioneering a new way to treat dementia.
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Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba.