Defy Dementia – The podcast for anyone with a brain, by Baycrest

Depression is a dementia risk factor. In this special episode marking Blue Monday – a day to discuss mental health – we’ll discuss the relationship between depression and dementia. We’ll hear from Faith Rockburne, Peer Support Specialist with St. Michael's Hospital and an Educator at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, as she shares her journey with depression, and the tools and strategies she used to break her cycle of mental illness, including never losing hope. And Dr. Zahinoor Ismail, Clinician Scientist and Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, Epidemiology, and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, will share his learnings and insights on the link between depression and dementia risk, and some of the ways depression can be treated and managed. Tune in at defydementia.org, or anywhere you get your podcasts. ​​Faith Rockburne is a Lived Experience Advocate for mental health. Since 2013, Faith has shared her journey with mental illness with a wide variety of audiences to help break the stigma of mental illness. She is also a Peer Support Specialist with St. Michael's Hospital and an Educator at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Dr. Zahinoor Ismail is a Clinician Scientist and Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, Epidemiology, and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary. He is certified in Behavioural Neurology & Neuropsychiatry and Geriatric Psychiatry, with over 25 years of clinical experience. He has published almost 350 scientific papers, is Chair of the Canadian Conference on Dementia and of the Canadian Consensus Conference on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia Guideline Group, and was Co-Chair of the Government of Canada Ministerial Advisory Board for Dementia from 2023-2025.

Volunteering has been associated with better self-reported health and reduced loneliness. Now, science is suggesting that it may also boost brain health. As we celebrate the spirit of giving at this time of year, we’re celebrating how volunteering not only benefits others, but can also help protect your brain and reduce your dementia risk. We’ll speak to lifelong volunteer Rev. Dianne Parker and learn how volunteering may have shaped her brain health. Later, we’ll hear from researcher Dr. Nicole Anderson, who has examined the link between volunteerism and brain health, and how volunteering supports physical activity, cognitive engagement and social interaction, each known to support healthy aging. Tune in at defydementia.org or anywhere you get your podcasts

While the companionship of pets has been studied in the context of cardiovascular health, their role in protecting brain health is less studied. Join us to investigate how an everyday dog walk may boost brain health through dementia risk-reduction factors including physical activity, well-being, social connection, and cognitive engagement. Co-host Jay Ingram – and author of The Science of Pets – joins psychologist and aging-brain expert Dr. Theone Paterson (University of Victoria) to explore how pets can help you defy dementia, while Dr. Lillian Hung (University of British Columbia; Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute) discusses innovations in dementia care technology, including robotic pets. Tune in at defydementia.org, or anywhere you get your podcasts. Dr. Lillian Hung is an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia School of Nursing and Clinician Scientist at Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, and the founder of the IDEA Lab. She leads a dynamic team of academics and patient and family partners dedicated to advancing dementia and aging research. Through co-designed projects and collaborative research, the IDEA Lab fosters innovation, emphasizing shared benefits and meaningful engagement to improve care and support for those affected by dementia. She focuses on patient-oriented research and innovative care for people living with dementia and their caregivers.  Dr. Theone Paterson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Victoria; an Affiliated Investigator at the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Affiliated Researcher at Fraser Health; and a Registered Psychologist with practice in Neuropsychology. She is the Past Chair of the Clinical Neuropsychology Section of the Canadian Psychological Association; and is currently a Co-Investigator and Local Site Principal Investigator for the UVic Data Collection Site of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Her research interests include improving understanding of the interplay between cognition and psychosocial functioning and predicting real-world cognitive health outcomes as we age. 

Everything is connected. Like the connection between oral hygiene and brain health. In this episode of Defy Dementia™, we’ll join Dr. James Noble, Professor of Neurology and author of Navigating Life with Dementia, as he discusses how poor oral health and inflammation could increase dementia risk, and just how important oral care is for brain health. We’ll also follow 65-year-old Ben Schaub, a journalist specializing in science and technology – and a Defy Dementia producer – as he shares how he keeps his brain healthy by taking care of his oral health. Tune in at defydementia.org, or anywhere you get your podcasts. Key Messages: Gum infections are common, especially in older adults. Maintaining healthy teeth and gums benefits your overall health and may reduce your dementia risk. Key Actions: Brush and floss daily.If available, visit your dental professional for regular cleaning and check-ups or if you are experiencing issues with your teeth or gums. About our guests: Ben Schaub is an award-winning science journalist and Defy DementiaTM’s writer and chase producer. Ben researched episodes of CBC’s The Nature of Things and produced interviews and documentaries for Discovery Channel Canada's Daily Planet.  Dr. James Noble is a Professor of Neurology in the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He was the first to discover an association between the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivitis and impaired memory, and leads a project exploring the relationship of oral health conditions and cognitive trajectories. He is also the author of Navigating Life with Dementia.

This episode explores how quitting smoking can transform both heart and brain health. Connor Dorr, lived-experience advisor at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, shares his journey with nicotine addiction, recovery, and advocacy.  We also hear from Dr. Adrienne Johnson, an expert on smoking and dementia risk, and Dr. Andrew Pipe, a global leader in smoking cessation. Together they discuss the science of addiction, the resilience needed to quit, and the brain’s capacity to heal.  Tune in at defydementia.org or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Lifestyle risk factors, like poor sleep, social isolation, and a lack of exercise may have a significant impact on dementia risk. The best evidence tells us that if we make healthy changes to key lifestyle risk factors, we could reduce dementia cases worldwide by at least 45 per cent. On this episode, Defy Dementia hosts Jay Ingram and Dr. Allison Sekuler report back on their own brain-healthy resolutions – changes they tried in our own lives – and their learnings, trials, and tribulations. Plus, they share cutting-edge brain health news, some from the recent Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2025, on topics ranging from new drug trials and blood tests for detection, to a major lifestyle study, to the role of lithium in Alzheimer’s disease, to the potential impact of wildfire smoke exposure on dementia risk, to the shingles vaccine, and more. Tune in at defydementia.org, or anywhere you get your podcasts.

In 2021, Diana De Faveri’s life turned “upside down, real fast” when her mother was diagnosed with corticobasal syndrome, a rare form of dementia. As a sole caregiver, she took care of her household, her business, her parents, and her parents’ home. She recounts this difficult and stressful time in her life, sharing the lessons she’s learned and her thoughts on why it’s so important to seek help and support. Dr. Nicole Didyk, Clinical Assistant Professor at McMaster University, geriatrician, internist, passionate patient and family education advocate and creator of The Wrinkle — a YouTube channel and website for older adults and their families — shares tips on how to navigate challenging behaviours, in the face of dementia. Tune in at defydementia.org, or anywhere you get your podcasts. 

In this special Pride episode, we learn about the increased risk of dementia facing the 2SLGBTQI communities, and about the tools, techniques, and resources available to mitigate that risk. We follow the story of Susan Gapka, the first openly trans person to receive a key to the City of Toronto in recognition for her work as an advocate, researcher, community organizer, and human rights activist, who also overcame mental health challenges, and alcohol and drug use. And we learn from geriatrician, clinician scientist, and proud 2SLGBTQI community member Dr. Samir Sinha as he shares insights as a dementia advisor and researcher, and elaborates on his work to enhance support for 2SLGBTQI people living with dementia and their care partners. Tune in at defydementia.org, or anywhere you get your podcasts. 

This episode explores the connection between untreated vision loss and brain health. We follow 78-year-old Walter Kuntz, a retired Canada Post employee, as he recounts his vision challenges – and consequent triumphs – and the steps he undertook to alleviate deteriorating eyesight caused by cataracts. He also shares his experiences with eye surgery and the life-changing benefits afterwards. Dr. Walter Wittich, Associate Professor at the School of Optometry, Université de Montréal, and Québec’s first Certified Low Vision Therapist, shares his work with older adults facing vision and hearing loss, exploring dual sensory impairment and acquired deafblindness. Dr. Wittich shares how vision loss can impact the brain and tangible strategies and resources on how everyone can protect their vision and reduce their dementia risk.

In this episode of Defy Dementia, we speak with Ian, a Toronto father and husband who has worked in the media for over 30 years. Ian shares with us his sobriety journey of nearly 11 years, hoping his story will support those facing similar challenges. We delve into the underlying brain mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease, and prompt discussion on the role of alcohol in certain diseases – like dementia – and how individuals can think about reducing alcohol intake to reduce their risk of dementia.

This episode of Defy Dementia explores the relationship between developmental disabilities and dementia. Guests Dewlyn and Anna Lobo, a daughter-mother duo who live in Ottawa, share their personal journeys as they navigate the health challenges that people with Down syndrome and their carers may experience. Then, Dr. Yona Lunsky (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health; CAMH) discusses why it’s so important for our physical and mental health to increase awareness of and fight stigmas surrounding developmental disabilities. Dewlyn Lobo and Anna Lobo are a daughter and mother, respectively, who live in Ottawa. Together, they are each other’s caregivers and both are committed to an activity-centred lifestyle that is designed to boost their physical and cognitive health. Dewlyn, 37, lives with Down syndrome and is employed part-time as an office worker and web researcher at the Occupational Health and Safety office at the House of Commons in Ottawa. As of June, 2025, she has worked there for 10 years. Anna, 72, originally worked as a nurse in Mumbai, India. In 2004, she answered a help wanted ad for nurses in Nunavut. She moved to Rankin Inlet in 2005. Her husband and Dewlyn joined her there in 2006. Eventually, the family moved south to Ottawa. Anna now serves as a teacher at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) coaching other caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities on wellbeing and cognitive health. Dewlyn was also a teacher at CAMH, speaking to other adults with developmental disabilities. Yona Lunsky, PhD, CPsych, FAAIDD, is the Scientific Director of the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, Director of the Health Care Access Research and Developmental Disabilities Program (www.hcardd.ca) and a Senior Scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), in Toronto, Canada. She is also a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto; an Adjunct Scientist at ICES; and a Clinical Psychologist. She has been studying the mental and physical health of adults with developmental disabilities and their families for more than 25 years, and has published over 300 papers on this topic. She works closely with people with developmental disabilities, their families, and clinical providers to identify health care gaps and co-design innovative solutions.

What’s good for the heart is good for the brain. Nicole McLachlan shares her experience suffering from a heart attack as a fit and healthy 42-year-old and her subsequent road to recovery. Then, Dr. Paul Oh (Toronto Rehabilitation Institute) discusses the latest research on how our heart health impacts our brain health.  In 2021, 42-year-old Nicole McLachlan was in her apartment, planning to go for a walk with a friend and her dog. She got up from her desk and suddenly felt “weird.” She lay down and when she tried to get up, she felt extreme pain on the right side of her body, in her jaw, neck, and shoulder. Nicole called Ontario’s health information line (now called Health811), who sent an ambulance to her address. Nicole was treated for a heart attack at St. Michael’s Hospital. Imaging revealed that the heart attack was caused by a Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD), a deadly condition where a tear forms in the wall of a coronary artery, slowing or blocking blood flow to the heart. Nicole recovered and was referred to the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (TRI) to rehabilitate her cardiovascular health and learn about a heart-healthy lifestyle. Since then, in addition to her role as a Senior Consultant at TD Bank, Nicole has been active in an online community of women recovering from SCAD-related heart attacks. Dr. Paul Oh is the GoodLife Fitness Chair in Cardiovascular Rehabilitation and Prevention, Medical Director of the Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation Program at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, and a Senior Scientist at :the KITE Research Institute at University Health Network. Dr. Oh's research activities examine ways to design, implement, and evaluate the best approaches to cardiac rehabilitation. His research themes include the role of exercise, risk factor management, enhanced self-management, technologies to support healthy behaviour, patient education models, and analyzing cardiovascular databases to better understand long-term patient outcomes. The GoodLife Fitness Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Medicine helps people with heart disease improve their cardiac health and fitness, while supporting patients to reduce their chance of future cardiac incidents by making lasting lifestyle and behaviour changes.

Moving a family member or friend to long-term care can be very difficult. The newest episode of Defy Dementia explores practical ways to help make the transition easier for everyone. Liane Pelissier shares her experience moving her father to long-term care following his dementia diagnosis. Then, Dr. Jasneet Parmar (University of Alberta) encourages us to define the term “caregiver” more broadly and outlines the benefits of a team-based, caregiver-centred approach to care, with tips for caregivers and healthcare providers. Tune in to discover strategies to improve outcomes for residents, their families and the broader healthcare system.  Liane Pelissier has more than 19 years of experience working in long-term care, and was a caregiver to her dad, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia. He transitioned to long-term care in 2016 and died in 2018. At the time of his admission, Liane was a Resident and Family Services Coordinator at a long-term care home. Liane has a background in social work and is a certified Gentle Persuasive Approach Coach through Behavioural Specialists of Ontario. She is currently a Client Services Manager at Family Councils Ontario, an NGO that advises caregivers of individuals living in long-term care. She gives presentations to family councils and long-term care staff, promoting collaboration, talking about conflict resolution and guiding caregivers through the transition process. Recently, Liane was a lead writer of a comprehensive transition guidebook for caregivers in Ontario, called Making the Move to Long-Term Care.  Dr. Jasneet Parmar is a Care of the Elderly physician and a Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, at the University of Alberta. She currently works in the Homeliving Care of the Elderly Services and provides assessments to homebound older adults. Dr. Parmar is on the front line of transitioning people to long-term care and works directly with their family caregivers. She is very active in developing and implementing clinical programs for the care of older adults. Her research focuses on supporting family caregivers through the healthcare system. With colleagues from the University of Alberta, she created an education program for long-term care staff (and eventually caregivers and doctors) called Caregiver-Centred Care. Its goal is to focus care on caregivers, recognize their unpaid work and draw on them for information about their loved ones living in long-term care. The Caregiver-Centred Care education program is now being taught at 44 long-term care homes in the Edmonton area.

In this episode of Defy Dementia, learn how traumatic brain injuries like concussions may increase your dementia risk. First, Jane Enright shares her inspiring journey recovering from a traumatic brain injury that almost left her unable to speak. Then, Dr. Carmela Tartaglia (University Health Network, University of Toronto) dives into the latest research on brain injury and how it can affect brain health in the long term and one’s dementia risk. Tune in for an insightful discussion and practical tips to safeguard your brain health. In 2017, Jane Enright suffered an unforeseen traumatic brain injury that left her almost speechless. She was at her son’s volleyball game when an errant, speeding ball hit her in the face and whipped her head back. It was a day before she went to hospital. She suffered from speech aphasia and memory loss. She regained full speech with the help of a speech pathologist. Amid this recovery, her partner Clayton suffered a severe head injury. Today, Jane is the winner of the 2022 Canadian Book Club Award for Best Book, Spiritual, Health & Wellness, and the 2022 Silver Medal from Living Now Evergreen Book Awards, to commemorate world-changing books published in this new millennium for her compelling, uplifting memoir entitled Butter Side Up: How I Survived My Most Terrible Year & Created My Super Awesome Life. Jane is also the author of the acclaimed wellness playbook Jane’s Jam: Inspiration to Create Your Super Awesome Life, shortlisted for the 2023 Eric Hoffer Grand Prize for Literature. Jane is also a Director on the Board of Governors for the Brain Canada Foundation. Dr. Carmela Tartaglia is a clinician scientist at the Canadian Concussion Centre, University Health Network (UHN) and Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto. She specializes in the detection and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on frontotemporal dementia and young-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Her interests also extend to the delayed effects of concussions. She sees patients with persistent, post-concussion symptoms and those with repeated concussions who may be at risk for neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Tartaglia employs a multi-modal approach, integrating imaging, biofluid biomarkers, genetics and clinical data to improve diagnosis and understand the underlying causes of cognitive, behavioural, and motor impairments. Her research aims to develop biomarkers for early disease detection, advancing precision medicine and enabling targeted, early interventions.

This episode of Defy Dementia explores how well-being, including positive emotions, life satisfaction and social connectedness, impacts brain health and reduces dementia risk. Family physician Dr. Agnes Chinelo shares her personal journey of balancing caregiving and self-care to improve her mental health. Then, Dr. Emily Willroth (Washington University, St. Louis) shares the latest research linking well-being to cognitive function as we age. Lastly, Dr. Martin Picard (Columbia University) explains the fascinating role of mitochondria—our cells' energy powerhouses—in connecting well-being with preserved brain function. Don’t miss this episode for strategies to improve your well-being and protect your brain health. Dr. Agnes Chinelo, MBBS, MRCGP, CCFP, has been a family physician for more than two decades, much of the time in the United Kingdom. Dr. Chinelo was born in Lagos, Nigeria and she earned her medical degree from the University of Ibadan. She is now practicing and living in Sackville, N.S. Dr. Chinelo has developed a mindful approach to managing her own well-being over a busy and sometimes harrowing life, as a mother of three, a caregiver and a doctor. She was a Physician Liaison with the Alzheimer Society of Canada on a project that created more inclusive dementia guidelines for the Black community. She is also an advocate for health empowerment and education through her YouTube channel, Talk with Doctor Agnes, and her blog. She has been a keynote speaker and a guest speaker at various conferences, workshops and seminars in the community. Dr. Chinelo has authored a book, “Michael’s Memories,” sharing her experiences of her father's dementia from her perspective as a daughter/caregiver and a medical doctor. The book is due to be published in March 2025. Dr. Emily Willroth is Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. She is also Director of the WELLlab. Her current research examines how different components of well-being (e.g., emotion, life satisfaction, sense of purpose) vary and change across time, both in the short-term from moment to moment and in the long term across the adult lifespan. She applies insights from this research to examine links between well-being and important health outcomes in middle and older adulthood, such as chronic illness, mortality and dementia risk. Emily received her doctoral degree at the University of California, Berkeley, her master’s degree at the College of William and Mary, and her bachelor’s degree at the University of Missouri. Dr. Martin Picard directs the Mitochondrial Psychobiology Group at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He received his bachelor’s degree in neuroimmunology, and doctoral degree in mitochondrial biology of aging at McGill University. He joined the faculty of Columbia University in 2015. The Mitochondrial Psychobiology Group investigates organelle-to-organism communication linking the human experience with molecular and energetic processes inside mitochondria. With their collaborators, Dr. Picard's team combines clinical, cellular and computational approaches to understand how energetic processes and perturbations within mitochondria interact with key brain-body processes that shape aging biology and sustain human health. Dr. Picard’s translational research program has contributed to defining the diversity of mitochondria across the brain and body, and to longitudinally examining the link between stress, energy expenditure and the rate of aging at the cellular level.

In this episode of Defy Dementia, explore the beneficial effects of music on the brain – whether you’re playing music yourself or listening to it. Hear David Chase’s inspiring story of caring for his wife Rena following her Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, and how music remained an important source of connection and comfort as her condition progressed. Then, discover the science behind music’s ability to enhance memory and cognitive health with expert guests Dr. Debra Sheets (University of Victoria) and Dr. Julene K. Johnson (University of California, San Francisco). Don’t miss this episode to learn how music can enrich the mind at every stage of life. David Chase, 78, is a retired teacher from British Columbia. He and his wife Rena married in 1966 and were together for almost 58 years. They had four children. At age 72, Rena was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and over the next six years Dave was her caregiver. Prior to the diagnosis, music had always been a big part of their lives. Following Rena’s diagnosis, they sought out local choirs as a healthy, social activity, and then Rena found out about a project at the University of Victoria called Voices in Motion. They both joined the choir, finding a welcoming, collaborative environment. They took part in rehearsals and performances. After Rena’s health deteriorated, Dave says her music persisted as other things fell away. Rena passed away on January 20, 2024. Dave continues to sing with the choir. Dr. Debra Sheets is a Professor Emeritus in the School of Nursing and a research affiliate with the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health at the University of Victoria. She received her doctorate in Gerontology and Public Policy from the University of Southern California. Dr. Sheets is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, the Canadian Academy of Nursing, the Gerontological Society of America and the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. She is the founder of four community-based, intergenerational initiatives (Voices in Motion choir, Memory Cafe, Minds on the Go, Momentia Victoria) in Victoria, British Columbia, aimed at making the arts more accessible to persons living with dementia and their care partners. She is the host of Call to Mind, a four-part podcast series created during the pandemic that aims to share intimate stories about the challenges and rewards of caregiving and finding joy by living in the present. Dr. Julene K. Johnson is a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Institute for Health & Aging. She is Co-Director of the Sound Health Network, which is a partnership between UCSF and the National Endowment for the Arts, in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health, the Kennedy Center and soprano Renée Fleming. The Sound Health Network promotes research and public awareness about the impact of music on health and wellness. Dr. Johnson is also the head of the Music and Dementia Research Network, where she curates the efforts of scientists who are looking for hard evidence on how music impacts the brains of people living with dementia. She obtained her Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Dallas and completed postdoctoral training at the University of California, Irvine's Institute for Brain Aging and Dementia, now called the MIND Institute. Her undergraduate degree is in music. Julene is a lifelong flutist.

As dementia progresses, individuals may forget pivotal moments, like the death of a loved one. Repeatedly learning this painful truth can cause significant emotional distress, but caregivers may also feel guilt at the thought of lying. This episode of Defy Dementia explores the ethics and benefits of compassionately reshaping the truth when communicating with a person living with dementia. Catherine Mulvale shares her experiences grappling with this challenge when caring for her mother, Anne. Then, Registered Nurse Ben Hartung discusses his research on “ethical lies” in dementia care. Tune in for an insightful discussion on this challenging topic and gain practical tips to provide comfort while managing the complexities of dementia care. Catherine Mulvale, 58, is a business consultant, wife and mother of two. She has been the executive director of several national charitable organizations, including the Canadian Foundation for Infectious Diseases and the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation. Over her career she has been directly involved in raising more than $65 million in donations. These days she works as a consultant and graphic designer, mostly for charities. Both of Catherine’s parents were diagnosed with vascular dementia. Her mother, Anne Hawkins, was diagnosed in 2019 at age 85 and is living in a long-term care home. Anne is still communicative, though she often experiences delusions. Catherine’s father died four years ago, denying that he had dementia until the end. Catherine began a website, dementialove.org, to help document her mother’s life and also to serve as an outlet for writing about caregiving for her mom. It has grown into a forum for other caregivers to share stories, resources and advice. Benjamin (Ben) Hartung is a Registered Nurse practicing in Alberta. He is also a nursing instructor at Bow Valley College in Calgary and a certified gerontological nurse with the Canadian Nurses Association. His research focuses on dementia communication and the use of “ethical lies” in dementia care. He has published several studies on the topic of lying and dementia care. Ben is passionate about helping caregivers and healthcare professionals navigate the complexities of communicating with people living with dementia. Benjamin holds a Master’s of Science in Nursing from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lakehead University.

A 2020 report from the Lancet Commission initially helped inspire our hosts Jay Ingram and Dr. Allison Sekuler to start the Defy Dementia podcast and help people reduce their dementia risk. In this special episode, they dive into the groundbreaking findings from the latest Lancet Commission report, published in August 2024. Joined by lead author Dr. Gillian Livingston, they explore how nearly half of all dementia cases could be prevented by addressing key lifestyle factors. Discover the two new risk factors identified in the report, and gain practical insights on how you can take action today to protect your brain health. Dr. Gill Livingston is Professor of Psychiatry of Older People at University College London. She is a clinical academic who has spent her career working with people living with dementia and their families. She led the Lancet Standing Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care, which published reports in 2017, 2020 and 2024. The findings of these reports have substantial implications for preventing and delaying a significant proportion of dementia cases and have resulted in changes in UK and US policy to reduce dementia risk. Dr. Livingston also researches interventions to improve the lives of people living with dementia and their families and staff caring for them, and particularly considers underserved and minority communities. She leads the Strategies for Relatives (START) programme, which promotes coping strategies for carers of people living with dementia who may experience depression and anxiety symptoms. Note: The full report of the Lancet Commission can be accessed here.

This episode of Defy Dementia explores stigma and dementia – what stigma looks like, the emotional toll it takes and its potential impacts on the health of individuals living with this diagnosis. Guests Myrna Norman and Jim Mann share their personal dementia journeys, recount experiences of hurtful prejudice they have faced and discuss their tireless efforts to combat stigma for everyone living with cognitive decline. Tune in to hear their inspiring stories and practical tips to fight stigma in your own community. Myrna Norman is an advocate, author, speaker, mother, wife and grandmother who lives in Maple Ridge, B.C. She was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2009. Her diagnosis has since shifted to Alzheimer's, Lewy body dementia and, most recently, to mild cognitive impairment. After her original diagnosis, Myrna struggled with depression and isolated herself. Myrna found her way out of her “cocoon,” as she calls it, through volunteering, establishing a Canadian chapter of the Purple Angel Ambassadors dementia support group and becoming an advocate for people living with dementia. Myrna also worked with Alzheimer’s disease advocate Jim Mann and researchers from the University of British Columbia on the federally funded Flipping Stigma toolkit, which was released in 2022. In her free time, she enjoys art, writing poetry and listening to audio books. Jim Mann is a researcher, author and speaker who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2007 at the age of 58. Since his retirement, his focus has been on the meaningful and ethical engagement of those living with dementia, issues of stigma and unconscious bias, and technology. Jim was awarded an honourary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of British Columbia in 2020 for his work “countering negative stereotypes and promoting an inclusive society in which persons with dementia can make an active and meaningful contribution.” Jim was co-Principal Investigator of the federally funded Flipping Stigma project, which focused on reducing the stigma of dementia, and produced a free publicly available toolkit. He has authored/co-authored 56 papers and continues to give presentations across the country. As a community volunteer, Jim is also a member of several boards and committees aimed at improving the lives of individuals living with dementia.

This episode of Defy Dementia explores why women may face a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease than men. First, caregiver Angeleta Cox shares the story of her mother, Sonia, a former personal support worker (PSW) who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2017. Then, Dr. Natasha Rajah (Baycrest’s Rotman Research Institute and Toronto Metropolitan University) discusses the latest research on the increased risk of dementia in women, and what women can do to protect their brain health. Don’t miss this episode full of practical brain health tips for you and the women in your life. Resources Why is dementia different for women? – from Alzheimer’s SocietyDid you know? Women are at higher risk – from Alzheimer’s SocietyWomen and Alzheimer's – from Alzheimer’s AssociationWomen and dementia: A global research review – from Alzheimer’s Disease International Why are women more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease? – from Harvard Health PublishingVideo: A discussion on women, brain health and dementia – from Alzheimer’s Society