TDRA at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2025

For the first time in nearly a decade, the world’s largest dementia conference returned to Toronto (July 27–31). AAIC 2025 drew more than 8,500 in-person attendees, with thousands more registered online for the hybrid program—making it the largest international gathering of dementia researchers, clinicians, and community members. The conference provided a platform to share the latest advances in dementia research and clinical care. TDRA was proud to showcase our work on this international stage through a range of events and activities, highlighted below.

TDRA-Affiliated Researchers at AAIC

TDRA-affiliated researchers were highly visible throughout AAIC 2025, delivering oral presentations, symposia, and posters on dementia prevention, biomarkers, sex and gender differences, and innovative care approaches. Below are some highlights:

Prevention and Brain Health

• Dr. Sylvie Belleville, Dr. Nicole Anderson, and colleagues presented the Brain Health PRO study, showing that a web-based multidomain intervention can improve dementia literacy and modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease.

• Dr. Sandra Black and collaborators contributed to large-scale studies on lifestyle and vascular risk, including ethnic differences in dementia risk and how systemic inflammation impacts brain health in aging.

Sex, Gender, and Brain Health

• Dr. Carmela Tartaglia chaired a symposium on sex and gender differences in frontotemporal degeneration.

• Dr. Madeline Wood Alexander presented on the combined influence of menopause and cardiac function on brain health.

• Dr. Laura Gravelsins and colleagues showed that type and route of menopause hormone therapy can influence cognitive outcomes.

• Dr. Xulin Liu shared findings on sex differences in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia.

• Dr. Juan Camilo Vargas Gonzalez highlighted the role of informant sex in dementia severity ratings and contributed to work on prognosis communication in progressive supranuclear palsy.

Clinical Interventions

• Alan (Jing Chiuan) Peng and colleagues presented evidence for the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine in improving neuropsychiatric symptoms in vascular mild cognitive impairment.

• Dr. Leia Shum introduced digital markers of behavioural symptoms to support clinical dementia care.

• Dr. Krista Lanctôt and colleagues advanced new treatment strategies, including studies of nabilone and N-acetylcysteine for neuropsychiatric symptoms, as well as EEG sleep biomarkers linked to cognition.

• Dr. Sandra Black contributed to multiple intervention trials, including vascular cognitive impairment and exercise studies.

Biomarkers and Imaging

• Dr. Erica Vieira presented on extracellular vesicles as biomarkers across dementia and late-life depression.

• Dr. Julie Ottoy mapped tau spread across brain networks to track disease progression.

• Dr. Madeline Wood Alexander and collaborators presented sex-specific links between systemic inflammation and brain health.

• Dr. Sandra Black was central to multiple biomarker and imaging studies, including glymphatic clearance, perivascular spaces, and white matter hyperintensities.

• Dr. Morris Freedman co-led innovative biomarker and imaging work, including AI-based dementia screening using clock drawing test images.

Technology and Innovation

• Dr. Mary Chiu and Dr. Amer Burhan explored the potential of virtual reality and artificial intelligence to design and deliver psychotherapeutic interventions for family caregivers of people living with dementia.

• Dr. Hamed Azami and colleagues showcased how artificial intelligence and EEG analysis can enhance early dementia detection and support diagnosis.

• Dr. Andrea Iaboni presented the use of computer vision technology to predict fall risk in nursing home residents with dementia.

Together, these presentations reflect the leadership and expertise of TDRA-affiliated researchers across the dementia research spectrum. A full list of TDRA-affiliated presentations at AAIC 2025 is available here. 

Canadian Pavilion

TDRA hosted a booth as part of the Canadian Pavilion, which brought together 22 Canadian dementia-focused organizations across 14 booths. The pavilion stood out with its bold red tablecloths and carpeting and was strategically located for excellent foot traffic. Our booth showcased TDRA tools, education programs, funding opportunities, and knowledge translation resources for both scientific and public audiences. The booth also welcomed visits from policymakers, including Maggie Chi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health. The TDRA Coordinating Centre staffed the booth for four days, with a Lived Experience Advisory Partners (LEAP) Council member joining on one of the days.

As part of the Pavilion, we sponsored and attended the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Canadian Networking Event on July 28, bringing together researchers, healthcare professionals, and partners from across the country. This event served as a platform for relationship-building, collaboration, and strategic dialogue. We displayed our banner and gave a one-minute speech introducing who we are, our strategic pillars, and some key TDRA tools and resources.

TDRA-JAMA Forum

On Friday, July 25, over 30 attendees—including TDRA members and JAMA editors and staff—participated in the TDRA-JAMA Forum: Investigating Cognitive Impairment and Dementia, part of the JAMA Roadshow at AAIC 2025. This unique event gave TDRA members the opportunity to present research projects nearing publication to JAMA editors, University of Toronto faculty, and other colleagues, providing valuable exposure and feedback.

Through a competitive abstract submission process with numerous entries, 11 presentations were selected, covering areas such as genetic and molecular biomarkers, cognitive assessment and prediction, personalized medicine, clinical outcomes, and innovative technologies for supporting people living with dementia.

Members were encouraged to stay connected with JAMA and submit their work for publication. Following the Forum, JAMA hosted a dinner at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), bringing together members from all TDRA partner sites to continue discussions initiated during the presentations.

TDRA Poster Presentation

On July 29, we presented A Model for Community-Based Recruitment for Dementia Clinical Trials (Poster #24), featuring our TDRA Research Studies Portal — developed with the Alzheimer Society of Toronto and now moved from the Toronto Dementia Network to the TDRA site. The Portal connects people living with dementia, caregivers/care partners, and healthy volunteers to research opportunities at TDRA sites. We shared takeaway cards with researchers outlining how to list their studies. Our findings show this approach achieves over a 35% enrolment/completion rate, that dedicated matching boosts enrollment compared to self-referral, and that trust and relationships encourage repeat participation. Explore the TDRA Research Studies Portal here.

International Brain Bee Winners Visit University Health Network (UHN)

On July 29, six high school students visited UHN Toronto Western Hospital as part of their AAIC experience. They came from Australia, Canada, China, Macao, and the United States and were top finishers in recent International Brain Bees (IBB), a global neuroscience competition testing students’ knowledge of the brain. The visit, hosted by TDRA, included talks from Dr. Carmela Tartaglia on Imaging the Brain and Dr. Gabor Kovacs on Neuropathology, a tour of Dr. Donald Weaver’s lab at the Krembil Research Institute, and a networking lunch with researchers and trainees from across TDRA partner sites. The experience offered an inspiring glimpse into dementia research and neuroscience in action.

AAIC For All Day – Community Track

AAIC For All was a free, half-day event on July 31, for people living with dementia, caregivers/care partners, and the broader community. It presented cutting-edge dementia research in an accessible, non-technical format, highlighting top Canadian and international findings from AAIC.

Members of the TDRA Coordinating Centre and LEAP Council helped plan the day, ensuring accessibility and rating abstracts. During the “In the Neighbourhood” session, TDRA researchers presented: Dr. Carmela Tartaglia, TDRA Executive Director, on Biofluid Biomarkers in Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration; Dr. Mary Chiu on Virtual Reality and AI for Psychotherapeutic Interventions for Family Caregivers of Persons Living with Dementia; and Dr. Wai Haung Yu on a general overview of Alzheimer’s disease. TDRA materials were also showcased at a booth.

AAIC For All: Connect & Reflect Social

Following AAIC For All Day, TDRA, in partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Toronto, hosted a social at a nearby restaurant to continue the conversation in a relaxed setting. Nearly 70 attendees—including people living with dementia, caregivers/care partners, TDRA LEAP members, local researchers, clinicians, and community organizations—enjoyed complimentary light snacks and refreshments while connecting and sharing experiences. The event also featured a brief visit from local MP Chi Nguyen, who shared a few words with the community.

Met us at AAIC 2025? We encourage you to stay connected! Subscribe to our newsletter or email us at tdra@utoronto.ca with any questions or requests for more information.