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Temerty-Tanz-TDRA Initiative

Supported by the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto, the Toronto Dementia Research Alliance (TDRA) partnered with the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases to advance the understanding of the links between dementia and depression.

In persons aged 65 and above, depression ranks as one of the strongest modifiable risk factors for developing dementia. While depression is a treatable condition through a variety of safe and effective options, the pathophysiological links between depression and dementia are not clear. Further, it is not known what depression-related interventions will lead to preventing dementia. This was the impetus for the creation of the Temerty-Tanz-TDRA Initiative, which sought to bridge the world-leading pre-clinical and clinical researchers across Toronto to explore how these two conditions interact and to establish clear pathways for dementia prevention by modifying depression as a risk factor.

The initiative was comprised of three elements, designed to advance its aims:

  1. Temerty-Tanz-TDRA Research Fellowships: Through a competitive fellowship, successful applicants developed and led projects over two-to-three years that explored the interactions between dementia and depression. There were two fellowships available: the Brain Medicine Research Fellowship, which was for candidates who had completed their medical residency, and the Postdoc Research Fellowship, which was for candidates with a PhD. Both fellowships were designed to address an emerging need to study the brain with an interdisciplinary lens and a collaborative approach. Learn more about the fellowships. 
  2. Seed Fund Award: Seed Fund Awards were available to advance innovative research on the intersection of depression and dementia that was multi-site or collaborative among basic and clinical sciences. The funding was $70,000 for one- to three-year projects. Learn more about the Seed Fund Awards. 
  3. Workshops: We hosted two workshops (in 2022 and 2024) that promoted the work of the Temerty-Tanz-TDRA Research Fellows, Seed Fund awardees, and the community of researchers as a whole focusing on depression and dementia. See details below.

2022 Temerty-Tanz-TDRA Workshop: Discovering the Links between Depression and Dementia

The Inaugural Temerty-Tanz-TDRA Workshop was held at the Hart House, University of Toronto, on November 30th, 2022. The following presentation recordings are available for viewing on TDRA's portal website:

  • A tale of two risk factors in 3D: Diabetes, depression, and dementia
    Dr. Olusola Ajilore
  • Impact of lipopolysaccharide on immune response and cerebral amyloid deposition in older adults with a history of major depressive disorder
    Dr. Damien Gallagher
  • The contribution of cerebrovascular disease to depression in patients with and without Alzheimer’s disease
    Dr. Carmela Tartaglia
  • Assessment of heart rate variability in older adults with lifetime history of depression or mild cognitive impairment
    Dr. Linda Mah
  • Cross-talk between glucocorticoid hormones and both memory and emotional state
    Dr. Stafford Lightman
  • Transcranial alternating current stimulation and focused ultrasound to engage theta-gamma coupling and enhance working memory in patients with mild cognitive impairment
    Dr. Iryna Palamarchuk
  • The potential for non-invasive brain stimulation to modify motoric cognitive risk syndrome in treatment-resistant late life depression: A feasibility pilot study
    Dr. Adrian Espiritu 
  • Investigating polygenicity of antidepressant response and cognitive domains in late-life depression
    Dr. Samar Elsheikh 

2024 Temerty-Tanz-TDRA Outcomes Workshop: Discovering the Links between Depression and Dementia

The second Temerty-Tanz-TDRA Workshop, focused on research outcomes, was held at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) on November 5th, 2024. Most presentation recordings are available for viewing on TDRA's portal website. Presentations that are not available are marked with an asterisk: 

  • Reflections on my Experience with Research, Caregiving, and Mild Cognitive Impairment (available for public viewing)
    Vince, Lived Experience Speaker
  • Mechanism of rapid antidepressant action
    Dr. Lisa Monteggia
  • Transcranial alternating current stimulation to engage theta-gamma coupling and enhance working memory in patients with mild cognitive impairment*
    Dr. Mina Mirjalili
  • “Gait-cognition-mood” effects of accelerated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in older people with treatment-resistant depression
    Dr. Adrian Espiritu
  • Investigating the genetic basis of depression in the context of cognitive impairment in late-life
    Dr. Samar Elsheikh 
  • Magnetic seizure therapy: An emerging treatment for adults across the lifespan with depression
    Dr. Shawn McClintock
  • Evaluating the contribution of depression in patients with and without Alzheimer’s disease
    Dr. Carmela Tartaglia
  • Assessment of heart rate variability in older adults with lifetime history of depression or mild cognitive impairment*
    Dr. Linda Mah
  • Using cognitive test data to differentiate Alzheimer's disease from depression
    Dr. Jennifer Rabin
  • Targeting α-synuclein with a novel peptide inhibitor to treat non-motor features of Parkinson’s disease
    Dr. Minesh Kapadia (on behalf of Dr. Lorraine Kalia)
  • Harnessing vagal nerve function to curb depression and dementia
    Dr. Thomas Prevot 

By funding training and research, this initiative advances current work and will help the next generation of independent investigators emerge. Investing in these budding researchers and ideas will help us achieve a future where dementia may be prevented when it is due to depression.