Speaker: Sara Early (left)

Paper: Cross-cohort evaluation of the brain age gap as a biomarker for dementia severity

This study explores how the brain age gap (BAG), the difference between an individual's machine learning–predicted brain age and their chronological age, varies across stages and subtypes of dementia. Using a deep learning model trained on structural MRI, we examined patterns of accelerated brain aging associated with different pathologies. Our findings highlight BAG as a promising, non-invasive biomarker of neurodegenerative severity that could support earlier diagnosis and more personalized dementia care strategies.

About the Speaker: Sara Early is a third-year PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Calgary, specializing in medical imaging. Under the supervision of Dr. Nils Forkert, her research focuses on developing reliable machine learning models for dementia assessment across diverse clinical stages and subtypes. Originally from Ontario, she moved out west to make the most of the Rocky Mountains while pursuing her graduate studies, often spending her free time hiking or skiing.

Speaker: Elvira Vasquez (right)

About the talk: This talk will cover the basic principles of ultrasound for vasculature imaging. In particular, we will discuss:

• Contrast agents such as microbubbles and gas vesicles

• Ultrasound localization microscopy 

• Non-linear sound-sheet microscopy

• Superharmonic contrast imaging

• Current ultrasound applications in pre-clinical neuroimaging

About the Speaker: Elvira Vazquez is a fourth-year PhD candidate in Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on the development of superharmonic contrast imaging, a novel ultrasound technique to image vasculature, to study stroke under the supervision of Dr. Christine Demore and Dr. Bojana Stefanovic. Elvira completed her B.Sc. in Honours Physics at  McGill University.

Speaker: Thomas Oldreive (Rescheduled from Oct 6)
Paper: Utility of cerebrovascular imaging biomarkers to detect cerebral amyloidosis

Research training (and research) is full of feedback: come join us for an interactive session on how to stop dreading it, get better at receiving it, profit from the learnings and improve your ability to give it. We will go into breakout sessions to work on scenarios after a short talk.

About the speaker:

Dr. Stefanovic is a Senior Scientist and Director of Physical Sciences at the Sunnybrook Research Institute, and a Professor in the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto. Dr. Stefanovic holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair Tier in Functional Brain Neuroimaging. Her research focuses on the development of new methods for quantitative in vivo imaging of brain function. Her laboratory works on the development and application of in vivo high field functional MRI, two-photon fluorescence microscopy, and ultra-high density extracellular recordings of neuronal activity. Her team is investigating neurovascular dysfunction in transgenic models of Alzheimer’s disease, during chronic stage of recovery from focal ischemic stroke and following traumatic brain injury. Dr. Stefanovic’s laboratory is also working on the development of effective neuromodulation protocols in dementia and stroke.  Dr. Stefanovic is a faculty member of the Toronto Initiative for Diversity and Excellence (TIDE).

There have been major, and rapid, advances in the development of biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. This virtual workshop brings together international experts to explore the lessons from that rapid innovation and the challenges and opportunities to advancing progress. 

Format

Expert presentations will kick off the event, offering insights into biomarker innovations and their potential to transform diagnosis, treatment and research. This will be followed by a roundtable discussion where all participants are encouraged to share their thoughts and perspectives.

Output

This is the first workshop convened by the World Dementia Council exploring innovation in dementia. The overall programme will inform a paper for Alzheimer’s & Dementia. Participation is by invitation only.

Date: Friday October 31 2025
Time: 1100-1230 EST / 1500-1630 GMT / 1600-1730 IST 
Platform: Zoom

For more information on participating in the meeting please contact info@worlddementiacouncil.com

Our memories play a critical role in shaping how we interact with the world, understand ourselves, and connect with others. This talk will introduce HippoCamera, a smartphone-based tool inspired by how the brain supports memory, designed to enhance real-world episodic recollection by guiding users to create and review personalized reminiscence cues. Here, I will cover the scientific research demonstrating the benefits of HippoCamera. In addition, I will go over the commercialization path of HippoCamera thus far, with the ultimate goal of providing an effective, accessible, and easy-to-use solution for those looking to maintain memory.

Bryan Hong is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow researching memory and aging at the University of Toronto with Dr. Morgan Barense in the Department of Psychology. Broadly, his research investigates the cognitive mechanisms underlying our ability to encode, organize, retain, and retrieve information. In addition, he is the Co-Founder and Chief Science/Product Officer of Dynamic Memory Solutions Inc., where he has been working on the development and validation of HippoCamera, a smartphone app that leverages principles from cognitive psychology and neuroscience to help mitigate memory loss for events from our day-to-day lives.

Speaker: Reza Khazaee (left), PhD Candidate, Dept. of Biology, Western University

Paper: Post-ischaemic silencing of p66Shc reduces ischaemia/reperfusion brain injury and its expression correlates to clinical outcome in stroke

Learning Objectives: Attendees will gain an appreciation of -

1. How the stress-response protein p66Shc contributes to oxidative stress and ischemia/reperfusion brain injury,

2. How post-ischaemic silencing of p66Shc influences infarct size, neurological outcomes, and blood-brain barrier integrity, and

3. Why p66Shc expression in stroke patients may serve as a clinically relevant marker of short-term recovery.

About the Speaker: Reza Khazaee is a PhD candidate in Biology at Western University, where he studies the interplay between oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired neurogenesis in Alzheimer’s disease, with a focus on redox-related signalling pathways such as p66Shc and Nrf2. He has extensive expertise in fluorescence and electron microscopy and previously worked as a Microscopy Specialist at the Biotron Imaging Facility, supporting and training researchers in advanced imaging techniques. For his postdoctoral research, Reza will collaborate with the Whitehead Lab to develop biosensor-based approaches for real-time monitoring of neurodegenerative biomarkers in vivo, linking vascular dysfunction to cognition.

Speaker: Heidi Riek (right)

Paper: Use of immersive virtual reality to explore visual search behaviour in individuals with visuospatial neglect after stroke

About the Speaker: Heidi completed a BScH in Life Science, followed by a PhD in Neuroscience, both at Queen’s University. Her doctoral work explored the use of eye tracking as a source of behavioural markers for neurodegenerative disease, including Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. She is currently a new postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Dr. Rick Swartz at Sunnybrook Research Institute.

Speaker: Thomas Oldreive (Rescheduled from Oct 6)
Paper: Utility of cerebrovascular imaging biomarkers to detect cerebral amyloidosis
Learning Objectives:

• Cerebrovascular imaging biomarkers can aid in predicting cerebral amyloid load, over basic demographic data

• The mechanisms connecting cerebrovascular disease and AD are complex and multi-facetted

• Multi-modal prediction offers a unique opportunity to understand the relationships between diseases 

XIX Gait & Brain Seminar - Organized by the Gait & Brain Lab and The Brain Health Care (BHCare) Training Platform - Register for this seminar here.

Speaker: Amer Burhan MD, MBChB, MSc, FRCPC Geriatric Psychiatrist, Research Chair and Associate Professor in Psychiatry at Ontario Shores Centre for mental health sciences and University of Toronto

About the Speaker: Dr. Amer Burhan is a geriatric psychiatrist, clinician-scientist, and researcher dedicated to improving the lives of older adults living with dementia and mental illness. He serves as the Endowed Chair for Applied Mental Health Research at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences in Whitby, ON and teaches psychiatry at the University of Toronto and Western University. Originally trained as a physician in Baghdad, Dr. Burhan went on to specialize in psychiatry and geriatric neuropsychiatry in North America, later earning a Master’s in Community Health to better understand how to bring science into practice.

His work bridges cutting-edge research and compassionate care, from using non-invasive brain stimulation and virtual reality to improve dementia care, to leading national and international collaborations on brain health and aging. With more than 75 scientific papers, multiple books and chapters, and over $10 million in research funding, he continues to push forward innovations that support patients, families, and the healthcare system.

Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:

1. 1Recognize the clinical and neuroscientific basis of the gait, mood, and cognition triad

2. Describe the impact of this triad on the wellbeing of older adults

3. Examine the effect of antidepressant medications and brain stimulation intervention on this triad

Sponsors: Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University; ProtoKinetics – Mike Rowling

Acknowledgements: Gait and Brain Lab and the Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University; Wolfe Research Professorship on Aging.

Journal Club is usually hosted on the last Monday of the month. To avoid conflicting with any events that might take place the day before National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30), we’ve moved September’s Journal Club to the following week.

Speaker: Thomas Oldreive (left) (Rescheduled to October 27)
Paper: Utility of cerebrovascular imaging biomarkers to detect cerebral amyloidosis
Learning Objectives:

• Cerebrovascular imaging biomarkers can aid in predicting cerebral amyloid load, over basic demographic data

• The mechanisms connecting cerebrovascular disease and AD are complex and multi-facetted

• Multi-modal prediction offers a unique opportunity to understand the relationships between diseases 

About the speaker: Thomas is entering the second year of his MSc in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Calgary, studying under Dr. Philip A. Barber and Dr. M. Ethan MacDonald. His research looks to combine multimodal biomarkers, including MR imaging, blood tests, genotyping, and demographic data, with machine learning to predict late life cognitive decline in stroke patients. Before his master’s Thomas was a chemical engineering working in the energy industry for over three years.

Speaker: Yasaman Shafaee (right)
Paper: Vascular reactivity in small cerebral perforating arteries with 7 T phase contrast MRI– A proof of concept study
About the speaker: Yasaman completed a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Physics at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran. Currently training at Carelton University, the scope of Yasaman’s PhD thesis aims to make measurements of oxygen metabolism (i.e., CMRO2) using calibrated fMRI more reliable during transient periods of brain activity, such as shortly after a stimulus is turned on/off or in the resting state.

Curious about peer review, editing and scientific publication? In this workshop, Dr. Eric Smith, the Deputy Editor of Stroke, will discuss peer review and scientific publication from an insider’s perspective. Learn how journals set priorities, solicit papers, and manage peer review.

This will be an interactive workshop where we will work through the review process. Registrants will be assigned a research paper and must submit a review of the paper prior to the workshop. These reviews, anonymized, will be discussed during the workshop with the goal of highlighting good practices in peer review. You’ll have the opportunity to receive feedback on your review skills, and get into the nitty gritty of the review process. This is a helpful tool in considering what reviewers will be looking for in your own publications as well!

Following this workshop, registrants will have learned how journals evaluate submissions for publication and how to do a good peer review.

This workshop is open to members of the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation’s (CABHI) Science Collaborative (CSC). To learn more and to register to be part of the CSC, visit their website.

CSC Workshop: "What's knowledge mobilization got to do with it?" 

Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Format: Hybrid (In-person and virtual)

In-Person Location:
CABHI Boardroom
CABHI at Baycrest
1st Floor, Kimel Family Building (Entrance #4)
3560 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M6A 2E1

Virtual Attendance:
If you registered to attend virtually, the Zoom link will be sent to you before the event.

Workshop Details:

• About: Are you curious about how to make your research go further? This workshop introduces the concept of knowledge mobilization (KMb) and why it matters to your work. Discover how KMb helps translate research into real-world impact, with practical strategies and tools to share and advance your findings. Put ideas into practice through an interactive activity to craft and communicate your own research snapshot.

• Speakers: Natalie Leventhal, Knowledge Broker, CABHI and Adi Rittenberg, MScOT, OT Reg (Ont.), Manager, Strategic Relations, CABHI

On behalf of Dr. Bogna Anna Drozdowska, a member of the VAST network, you’re invited to attend this webinar, which also features a presentation by another VASTee - Thomas Oldreive!

https://sciforum.net/event/cluster-2?subscribe&section=#welcome

Thank you for your interest in this webinar on post-stroke cognitive impairment – an issue affecting the lives of millions of people worldwide, contributing to loss of independence, reduced social participation, and diminished overall quality of life. With this profound impact increasingly recognized, advancing strategies to better prevent, assess, and manage cognitive dysfunction has emerged as a top priority in stroke research.

In this webinar, we bring together an international group of researchers to share current findings from community-based studies, psychometric validation, neuroimaging, and clinical trials. Through five diverse presentations, we hope all attendees – whether academics, clinicians or policymakers – will take away practical insights to inform their work and inspire future efforts to improve cognitive outcomes following stroke.

Speaker: Teresa Liu-Ambrose, PhD, PT

In this session, we will discuss exercise can protect brain health in older adults with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). Drawing from clinical trials, she will share evidence that aerobic and resistance training improve cognitive function, as well as brain health, in this population.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the evidence supporting exercise as a non-pharmacological intervention for cognitive health in older adults with VCI.

2. Identify the types and intensities of exercise shown to benefit cognitive outcomes in this population.

The VAST Summer Program encompasses a series of workshops and seminars targeted to undergraduate trainees in the field of VCI to help with overall VCI knowledge, research skills, and networking. While targeted to undergraduates, all are welcome to attend. This series is coordinated by our VAST Trainee Curriculum Committee members.

It culminates in the VAST Summer Student Symposium where the students have the opportunity to share the work that they’ve been doing over the last few months.

We are excited to have Dr. Caroline Dallaire-Théroux join us as our keynote speaker for this year’s Summer Student Symposium. Her talk, titled “BBB Matters: Uncovering Metabolic and Vascular Dysfunction Through Blood-Based Biomarkers in Alzheimer’s Disease” will highlight the value of blood-based biomarkers in capturing key metabolic and vascular changes across the Alzheimer's disease (AD) continuum. Specifically, it will examine three peripheral markers of metabolic dysfunction – adiponectin, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21), and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP-2) – and their associations with clinical stages of the disease. Preliminary findings on serum placental growth factor (PlGF) will also be presented, aiming to establish its role as a potential marker of concomitant cerebrovascular pathology in AD. These blood-based biomarkers offer promising avenues for understanding disease mechanisms, providing accessible diagnostic and monitoring tools, and guiding new therapeutic strategies.

Caroline Dallaire-Théroux is a newly graduated neurologist and postdoctoral fellow at Université Laval, with a research focus on radiological and serum biomarkers in age-related neurocognitive disorders. She has a particular interest in vascular etiologies of cognitive decline, such as cerebral small vessel diseases. She will soon pursue further training in Cognitive Neurology at University of Calgary, specializing in cerebral amyloid angiopathy and vascular cognitive impairment.

View the 2025 VAST Summer Symposium Program here.

Interested in attending? Register to be part of the VAST network via the link at the top of the page.

Presenter: Soraya Lahlou
Paper: Association of sleep behaviors with white matter hyperintensities and microstructural injury: a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of 26 354 participants (https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsad020)
Learning Objectives:

1. Learn about the relationship between unhealthy sleep behaviors and white matter hyperintensities, and

2. how vascular risk factors may influence this relationship

About the speaker: Soraya is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Montreal, where she is investigating the relationship between sleep and white matter hyperintensities across the dementias. 

Does the idea of a networking reception make you want to stick with people you already know? You’re not alone — but these events are a valuable chance to meet new colleagues, build professional relationships, and find future collaborators.

Join us for this one-hour crash course designed to help you navigate conference networking with confidence. You'll learn how to:

1. Make a strong and memorable first impression

2. Identify the right people to approach

3. Ask thoughtful questions that spark meaningful conversations

4. Follow up effectively to turn new contacts into lasting connections

Whether you're attending your first conference or your tenth, this session will help you get more from every interaction.

About the Speaker: Gillian Robertson is a dynamic facilitator and coach with a career dedicated to helping individuals excel in their careers and navigate professional success. Drawing on extensive experience in recruitment, onboarding, talent management, and performance management, she knows the "secret sauce" to putting your best foot forward in any workplace.

With over seven years of coaching and training job seekers, Gillian is an expert in networking and personal branding. As a proud, born-and-raised Calgarian, she has firsthand knowledge of the city’s key industries and understands the nuances of how work gets done. Gillian loves designing and leading impactful programs that empower individuals to develop their skills, build confidence, and achieve their full potential. Connect with Gillian on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilliankrobertson/.

Curious about how startups are shaping the future of brain health? In this interactive webinar, meet the CEOs of three companies innovating in the fields of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), stroke, and dementia. They’ll share their personal journeys, company missions, and the challenges and breakthroughs they've encountered along the way. Whether you’re interested in entrepreneurship, research translation, or health innovation, this session will offer real-world insights and inspiration.

Company 1: Stroke.AI Inc.

Craig Doram is the co-founder and CEO of Stroke.AI Inc. He is also the Director of Business Operations for the Calgary Stroke Program and its Stroke Clinical Trials Group at the UofC. He is an engineer, climber, coffee snob, x-coffee roaster, x-climbing gym owner, and generally just a crazy human who likes disrupting things.

Stroke.ai has a mission to improve lives by transforming the technology of monitoring body movement. We are developing a clinically validated IoT solution utilizing proprietary hardware and a machine learning enabled platform for use in stroke

Company 2: blueBell Village

Andrew Karesa is a member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation and a proud husband and father of two young sons.

After witnessing how his family coped to support his grandmother with her Alzheimer's diagnosis, Andrew realized he needed to take action. This inspired the creation of blueBell Village, aimed at Restoring the Personhood and Independence of those living with dementia™. With blueBell, Andrew has seen lives transformed for both individuals living with dementia and their caregivers, and he is passionate about fostering a world where care is tailored to each individual’s needs.

Additionally, he is pursuing his doctorate at the University of Calgary, focusing his research on Indigenous entrepreneurship in the health sector. Andrew also holds an MBA from the University of Alberta. Before founding blueBell Village, he worked as a practicing engineer in the energy sector.

blueBell Village is an Indigenous-led organization reimagining dementia care by restoring the personhood and independence of those living with dementia. Rooted in lived experience and guided by Indigenous values, we focus on personalized, culturally appropriate support for both individuals and caregivers. Our digital tool, blueBell Connect, enables centralized communication among care teams, both formal and informal, while delivering tailored, evidence-informed care suggestions. By integrating community-driven knowledge with clinical best practices, we help families navigate dementia care with clarity, dignity, and cultural safety.

Company 3: Brain Care Technologies

Greg McGillis, PEng, MEng is an electrical and biomedical engineer. After 25 years in instrumentation, automation and control, he returned to university (University of Toronto) for a Masters in BioMedical Engineering. He started Brain Care Technologies to develop a solution to help detect mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia earlier, monitor treatment response and predict progression.

Greg and his team are developing a unique neurotechnology solution to detect changes in brain function incident to cognitive impairment. It will be a combination electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) medical device to provide biomarkers of MCI and dementia earlier, with greater accuracy, convenience, and clarity than alternative solutions. In addition to early detection, it will monitor treatment response and predict progression.

Presenter: Ali Rezaei (left)
Paper: Exploring cognitive related microstructural alterations in normal appearing white matter and deep gray matter for Small Vessel Disease: A Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping study
Learning Objectives:

1. Understanding the role of normal appearing white matter (NAWM) and deep gray matter in cognition

2. Applications of quantitative susceptibility mapping in small vessel disease and relevant interpretations.

About the speaker:
Ali is a both PhD candidate in the Physics Department at Concordia University in the Quantitative Physiology Lab (QPI Lab) under supervision of Dr. Claudine Gauthier, and a VAST scholar. His area of research is MRI physics and quantitative MRI methods, specifically Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM). Ali completed both his Bachelor’s and Master’s in the Biomedical Engineering department of Amirkabir University of Tehran, Iran. He worked on left ventricle mechanical characteristics analysis using MRI during his Master’s, before shifting to brain imaging for his PhD. Ali enjoys talking to people, especially his peers, about various subjects from science to politics, and is happy to connect at any time.

Presenter: Matthew Rozak (right)

Paper: Brain capillary pericytes exert a substantial but slow influence on blood flow

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the distinct location and function of unique mural cells with an emphasis on the dynamics of capillary constriction and their contribution to vascular tone regulation in vivo. 

2. Appreciate key controversies underlying whether or not capillary pericytes are contractile.

3. Develop familiarity with invivo methods for examining blood flow at the capillary level with multiphoton excitation microscopy. 

About the speaker:
Matthew Rozak is a 6th-year PhD student in the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto. He previously completed his Honours B.Sc. in Biological Physics at the University of Toronto. His current research focuses on developing imaging methods and analysis pipelines for characterizing microvascular coordination from 3D microscopy images.

This interactive online workshop introduces participants to systems thinking as a powerful tool for understanding the complex factors that influence vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). Through guided activities and real-world examples, attendees will explore how biological, social, and healthcare system-level factors interact to impact brain health outcomes. Participants will gain practical strategies for applying systems thinking to their own research, clinical practice, or advocacy work related to cognitive health.

This workshop will serve as a direct lead in to the micro hack-a-thon that we will be doing together at the VAST conference.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Define systems thinking and explain its relevance to understanding vascular cognitive impairment.

2. Use the Iceberg Model to analyze underlying structures and mental models that contribute to surface-level problems in VCI.

About the Speaker:

Joanne Nowak is Senior Innovation Manager at the Social Innovation Hub at Innovate Calgary. She supports social innovators to scale their impact by exploring sustainable pathways for their ideas — from launching new ventures, creating non-profits with blended finance models, to building strategic partnerships.

She also leads the Hub’s impact measurement and evaluation efforts, helping ventures define, track, and communicate their impact. Joanne holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Toronto, where her research focused on systems, social change, and inequality.

Her career and experience spans roles across universities, government, and non-profits in Canada and the United States, including Global Affairs Canada, Oxfam Canada, and the University of California Santa Barbara. Joanne brings this cross-sector experience to help innovators navigate complexity, scale what works, and create transformative social change.

Falls Conference Events
Organized by the Gait & Brain Lab and the CIHR Institutes of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis and the Institute of Aging Joined by The Brain Health Care (BHCare) Training Platform

Register here.

Tune in for the YouTube live stream.

Guest Speaker:  Stephen R. Lord PhD
Scientia Professor
University of New South Wales
Neuroscience Research Australia

Professor Stephen Lord is a Scientia Professor at the University of New South Wales and a Senior Principal Research Fellow at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) in Sydney, Australia. A globally recognized expert in balance, gait, and falls in older adults, he has published over 500 research papers on applied physiology, instability, falls in aging in clinical populations with balance impairments. He focuses on identifying psychological, sensorimotor, and balance-related risk factors for falls and developing effective fall prevention strategies.

His work has been instrumental in shaping fall-risk assessment methods used by researchers and clinicians worldwide. He was also a key contributor to the development of the World Falls Guidelines, which provide evidence-based recommendations for fall prevention and management on a global scale. Currently, his projects explore cognitive-motor interventions and innovative technologies to reduce fall risk, particularly in high-risk groups such as individuals with Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia, stroke, and dizziness disorders. Professor Lord’s contributions continue to influence policy and practice, helping to advance fall prevention research and improve the health and well-being of older adults.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:

1. Examine the role of exercise in enhancing cognition and balance in older adults

2. Explore current exercise interventions, based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs), that integrate cognitive and physical training to prevent falls.

3. Recognize the types, frequency, and intensity of exercise for effective fall prevention.     

Agenda:

2:45 pm - Welcome Remarks
2:50 pm: - Dr. M. Montero-Odasso: “Exercises as Holy Grail for Brain Health and Falls Prevention”.
3:00 pm - Professor Stephen R. Lord - Lecture: “The Role of Exercise on Cognition and Falls” and “Questions & Answers”.
4:00 pm - Round Table Discussion: “Implementation of the World Falls Guidelines in Australia. Successes & Challenges.”
4:45 pm - Adjourn

Acknowledgements

Gait and Brain Lab and the Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, at the Schulich School of

Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, Wolfe Research Professorship on Aging, and CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, CIHR Institute of Aging

Presenter: Christine Seo (left)
Paper: Sex Difference in Aerobic Exercise Efficacy to Improve Cognition in Older Adults with Vascular Cognitive Impairment: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Learning objectives:

1. Understand the effects of aerobic training (AT) on executive functions in older adults with subcortical ischemic vascular cognitive impairment (SIVCI)

2. Understand sex differences in the effects of AT in older adults with SIVCI

3. Discuss the significance of research that allows for more personalized exercise recommendations to maximize benefits amongst older adults

About the Speaker:
Christine is a second-year MSc student in Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia (UBC).  Prior to starting her MSc, she has completed a BSc in Behavioural Neuroscience at UBC and worked full-time as a research assistant withing the Aging, Mobility and Cognitive Health lab at UBC, where she is currently completing her MSc, then as the clinic and research coordinator of the Vancouver General Hospital's Falls Prevention Clinic.  Christine's MSc research focuses on the effect of resistance training on structural MRI outcomes (i.e., regional brain volumes) in older adults with subcortical ischemic vascular cognitive impairment.  

Recording

Presenter: Jaiden Kuchinka (right)
Paper: Implications of Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease in Canada’s Indigenous Population
Learning Objectives:

This presentation will examine a study that investigated the PAR of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) associated with modifiable risk factors among Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations in Canada. While the paper focuses primarily on individual-level modifiable factors such as physical inactivity, smoking, and educational attainment, this discussion will extend beyond these findings to examine the wider social determinants of health that disproportionately impact dementia prevalence among Indigenous populations.  

1. Understand some of the modifiable risk factors that affect AD in Indigenous vs Non-Indigenous populations in Canada

2. Understand the importance on identifying wider social factors that impact populations and not just modifiable risk factors at the individual level

About the Speaker:
Jaiden Kuchinka is an Indigenous Master's student in the Department of Community Health Sciences specializing in population and public health at the University of Calgary. Her current research aims to establish what is needed to create adaptable and culturally informed spaces that provide Indigenous-centred dementia care, setting a standard for engaging with communities in a manner that respects and addresses their unique needs.

Recording

Speaker: Sarah Gagliano Taliun

In this seminar we will describe the concept of Mendelian randomization and how to carry out this study design through the use of examples.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe the concept of a Mendelian randomization study to the general public

2. Understand the appropriate contexts for using Mendelian randomization

3. List the assumptions central to Mendelian randomization and interpret results

About the Speaker:

Bio: Sarah Gagliano Taliun is an FRQS Junior 2 Assistant Professor at the Departments of medicine and neurosciences at the Université de Montréal. She leads a computational research group located at the Research Centre of the Montreal Heart Institute. Dr. Gagliano Taliun completed her PhD at the University of Toronto, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan before starting her own lab in Montreal in late 2020. Her research group uses computational tools and approaches to identify and better understand genetic factors contributing to complex human traits, primarily neurodegenerative disorders.

Speaker: Camille Beaudoin

This webinar will provide an overview and demo of the data access workflow in LORIS and relevant modules. Attendees will gain an understanding of LORIS and the CCNA data currently being released, as well as learn how to effectively use the software. The session will give researchers the proper tools to start using the Compass-ND and Can-Thumbs Up data by teaching them how to request an account, complete a data access request form, use the LORIS data dictionary, and make queries in the DQT. Additionally, participants will explore the different data release pathways, including the data release module, DQT, and ProFTPD server.

Learning objectives:

• Understand the purpose and structure of LORIS as it pertains to CCNA.
• Learn how to request an account and submit a data access request.
• Utilize the data dictionary and DQT.
• Navigate the data release modules effectively.

Who I am:
Camille is a research software developer who has been working on LORIS for the Canadian Consortium of Neurodegeneration and Aging (CCNA) for 6 years. She manages the CCNA database on LORIS and is dedicated to providing accessible software for studies and researchers alike.

Presenter: Natalia Docteur (left)

Learning objectives:

• Understand increased dementia risk in adults with ADHD

• Explain how white matter hyperintensity burden contributes to cognitive impairment

• Discuss cognitive vulnerability to vascular brain pathology in later-life ADHD

Paper: Vascular Burden Moderates the Relationship Between ADHD and Cognition in Older Adults

Natalia is a second-year PhD student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Calgary. She completed her Hons. B.Sc. in Psychology and Cognitive Science at the University of Toronto and worked as a Research Analyst at the Sunnybrook Research Institute and Centre for Addiction and Mental Health prior to starting graduate school. Her current research investigates relationships between white matter microstructure, cardiovascular risk factors, and cognition in adults with ADHD. Clinically, Natalia specializes in the neuropsychological assessment and diagnosis of older adults with brain disorders (e.g., dementia, traumatic brain injury) presenting with comorbid psychopathology.

Recording

Presenter: Kate McKay (right)

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the background research on executive functioning across the lifespan and the potential roles of white-matter hyperintensities and white-matter connectivity on the relationship between age and executive functioning. 

2. Discuss the paper’s methods for testing complex models of the relationships between these variables.

3. Discuss the findings of the paper and future research directions. 

Kate is a postdoctoral researcher in cognitive psychology at the University of Calgary. She completed her PhD in cognitive psychology at the University of Queensland in 2024. Her current research investigates ADHD across the lifespan.  

Paper: The effect of vascular health factors on white matter microstructure mediates age-related differences in executive function performance

Recording

VAST program manager Liam Harrison will be leading this interactive workshop focused on science communication. Attendees will learn about different avenues where they can practice and develop their science communication skills, and will participate in activities that encourage them to reflect on how effectively they communicate their science. Tips and tricks will be contextualized against different practical examples including presentations and infographics.

Attendees are asked to come to the workshop with a sample of their scientific writing - it could be a couple sentences detailing their research focus, or it could be an excerpt from a paper or abstract they’ve written or contributed to.

Biography: Liam completed his BSC in Biology from St. Mary's University (Calgary), and his Master's in Biomedical Technology from the University of Calgary. He is currently a student in the University of Calgary's Precision Health Program where his studies focus on the role that innovation and entrepreneurship play in the development of new health technologies. Liam has spent time working in Calgary's innovation ecosystem, learning about and supporting a variety of innovators as they work towards developing new solutions to challenges faced in Alberta and beyond.

Recording

Speakers: Dr. Isabelle Vedel (left) and Dr. Claire Godard-Sebillotte (right)

We will present our results on care and health services use disparities in QC and ON in persons with dementia across sex, rurality, socio-economic status.

Bios:

Claire is an Assistant Prof at the McGill Division of Geriatrics, and a junior scientist at the McGill University Health Centre  Research Institute. Her research focuses on improving the care of older adults with health equity emphasis.

Isabelle is an Associate Professor at the Department of Family Medicine at McGill University, and an investigator at the Lady Davis Institute of the Jewish General Hospital. Her research focuses on partnering with patients, caregivers, organizations, clinicians, and researchers to produce knowledge that could improve the quality of care for people living with dementia and their caregivers.

Recording

Mentorship is defined as the influence, guidance, or direction given by a mentor. A mentor may help with exploring careers, setting goals, building a network, and identifying useful resources. Our goal is to match trainees where applicable (and wanted) with academic faculty (i.e., a VAST co-investigator or collaborator), a senior peer mentor, and/or a non-academic mentor (i.e., industry/non-profit/community partner, clinician). In order to facilitate matches based on expectations upon time, career goals, and professional interests, please fill out the registration survey. You can learn more on the mentorship program here.

Effective mentorship relationships have clear expectations and communication. This session will cover general guidance for setting up a mentee-mentor relationship and what could be discussed at your first meetings, and we will review some of the benefits of mentorship for both mentees and mentors.

Join us for a couple of short presentations on professional development opportunities that could support progress on your career journey:  

1. From Dylan Guan - He’s a member of the VAST network and is also a ISTAART Ambassador. Dylan will be sharing some opportunities in dementia research for Canadian trainees, including insights into the upcoming Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) in Toronto, the association’s global network ISTAART (free membership for students), and the ISTAART Ambassador volunteer program (recruiting for 2025-26). It’s a fantastic chance to learn more about how you can enhance your career, connect with global experts, and engage with the vibrant dementia research community. 

2. From Nadia Lachman (Amplitude Ventures) and Eric Desjardins (Pre-Amp) - Both will be sharing information about the Pre-Amp Fellowship. This three-month program connects PhD candidates, postdocs and MDs that are passionate about life sciences with Amplitude Ventures to explore cutting-edge biotech concepts and launch tomorrow’s leading health science companies.

Please contact Liam Harrison (liam.harrison1@ucalgary.ca) if you are interested in watching a recording of either of these presentations.