Webinar Series: Advances in Dementia Research

The Toronto Dementia Research Alliance (TDRA) and the Alzheimer Society of Toronto (AST) created a Research Studies section on the Toronto Dementia Network (TDN) website. This section lists information about dementia studies led by TDRA scientists that are open for participation.

To highlight the dementia studies listed on the TDN website, TDRA and AST have partnered to host a bi-monthly webinar series called Advances in Dementia Research.

Each webinar provides an overview of a research topic in dementia, and features an available research study (or studies) related to that topic. Webinars are presented in plain language by the scientists who lead the study being discussed (or ‘Primary Investigators’). These webinars are open to anyone, but are designed with people living with dementia and their caregivers/care partners in mind. Participants have the opportunity to ask questions in a Q&A period.

For upcoming webinar dates, please see Events.

Past Webinar Recordings

What is the Role of Virtual Reality in Supporting Dementia Caregivers? (March 20, 2024)

Presented by Dr. Mary Chiu, this webinar provided an overview of the caregiving/care partnering role, in the context of caring for persons living with dementia, and the impact on the carers’ health and wellbeing. Dr. Chiu reviewed evidence-based interventions and training programs currently available to support carers for different aspects of this demanding role. Dr. Chiu introduced a study titled “Dementia Caregivers Skill Training Through Virtual Reality Simulation (VR-SIM Carers)”.

Connecting Changes in Heart Rate with Physical, Mental & Cognitive Health (January 23, 2024)

Presented by Dr. Linda Mah, this webinar provided an overview of the relationship between heart rhythms and various aspects of physical, mental and cognitive health, including memory, mood symptoms and other aspects of emotional health. Dr. Mah discussed a series of observational studies investigating the brain-heart connection; specifically, whether heart rate variability can be used as an indicator of cognitive health, in older adults.

Updates on Innovative Research Projects on Driving in People Living with Dementia (October 23, 2023)

Presented by Drs. Gary Naglie, Mark Rapoport and Sayeh Bayat, this webinar provided an overview of the challenges that driving cessation poses for people living with dementia and their family/friend carers, as well as new resources and technology (e.g., self-driving cars) being developed to support them. The speakers introduced three current research studies that investigate driving and dementia.

Advances in Neurosurgery: a New Trial for Frontotemporal Dementia (August 22, 2023)

In this webinar, Dr. Andres Lozano presents an overview of functional neurosurgery, a specialized medical approach used to treat brain disorders. Dr. Lozano introduces the FRONSTIM study which will evaluate the safety of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in people diagnosed with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

Updates on Risk and Protective Factors for Dementia (June 15, 2023)

Presented by Dr. Jennifer Rabin, this webinar provides an overview of modifiable risk and protective factors that may delay the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Dr. Rabin also reviews a study based at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre that investigates risk and protective factors for dementia among people who identify as East Asian, South Asian, or White.

Updates in Research on Frontotemporal Syndromes (April 19, 2023)

Presented by Dr. Carmela Tartaglia, this webinar provides an overview of frontotemporal lobar degeneration-related syndromes (e.g., frontotemporal dementia). Dr. Tartaglia also reviews two Toronto-based studies that examine how frontotemporal lobar degeneration-related syndromes progress over time.

Exploring Light Therapy as a Treatment for Mild Cognitive Impairment (February 23, 2023)

Presented by Dr. Neda Rashidi-Ranjbar, this webinar reviews a study that investigates a form of non-invasive light therapy called photobiomodulation as a treatment for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI); an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease.

Understanding the Complexity of Aging and Dementia (November 17, 2022)

Presented by Dr. Sandra Black, this webinar provides an overview of the BEAM (Brain-Eye Amyloid Memory) study. The BEAM study investigates whether measurements of the eye can be used for earlier detection of dementia.

Exploring Novel Drug Treatments for Agitation in Alzheimer's Disease (September 27, 2022)

Presented by Dr. Krista L. Lanctôt, this webinar presents an overview of two ongoing clinical trials evaluating new drug treatments for agitation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Exploring Links between Sleep, Cognitive Impairment & Stroke (July 12, 2022)

Presented by Dr. Mark Boulos, this webinar discusses evidence that links sleep disorders with cognitive impairment and stroke. Dr. Boulos also explains how home sleep testing may improve outcomes in patients with cognitive dysfunction and stroke, and discusses preliminary results from a related study called ‘ENCHANT’.

Updates on Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation in Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders (May 24, 2022)

Presented by Dr. Tarek Rajji, this webinar provides an overview of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques for Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, and discusses a brain stimulation study that aims to improve memory and thinking processes in people with mild cognitive impairment.

Diversifying Research in Alzheimer’s Disease – Identifying Risk and Protective Factors In Asian Populations (March 24, 2022)

In this webinar, Dr. Ho Yu from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) reviews genetic and lifestyle risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, including differences between population groups. This webinar also discusses the Asian Cohort for Alzheimer’s Disease (ACAD) study.

Updates on Diagnosis and Self Care Through Wearables and Molecular Technologies (January 11, 2022)

In this webinar, scientists from the Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative (ONDRI) present recent updates related to their work in studying multiple diseases that can cause dementia. Details of the Health in Aging and Neurodegeneration in Dementias in Ontario (HANDDS-ONT) study are also discussed.