Engaging communities, driving change: Evidence-based lifestyle interventions for dementia prevention

Title : Engaging communities, driving change: Evidence-based lifestyle interventions for dementia prevention

Abstract:

What if dementia prevention were approached as a shared public health opportunity shaped by everyday lifestyle choices, social environments, and supportive systems Growing evidence on modifiable risk factors across the life course shows that interventions targeting exercise, stress management, sleep, and cognitive engagement can meaningfully influence brain health and functional independence in aging populations. This interactive presentation highlights Defy Dementia, a national public health initiative led by the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada. Defy Dementia develops accessible resources podcasts, short-form videos, and infographics that promote evidence-based lifestyle behaviors to reduce dementia risk. Engagement with these knowledge products, as demonstrated in the Alzheimer’s & Dementia article on Defy Dementia (Sekuler et al, 2024), has been shown to increase awareness, support behavior change, foster empathy, and reduce stigma, illustrating the potential of public health initiatives to promote dementia prevention and improve quality of life for older adults. Participants will explore practical approaches to designing and implementing lifestyle-based interventions that are feasible, scalable, and maintainable. Emphasis will be placed on behavior change frameworks, strategies for adherence, and community-based engagement to enhance exercise, sleep, stress management, and cognitive activity in older adults. Attendees will leave with actionable insights for translating evidence into practice learning how to design, deliver, and sustain lifestyle interventions that improve physical and cognitive health, support functional independence, and empower older adults to actively reduce their dementia risk. Baycrest and CABHI serve as a case example of how evidence-based behavioral strategies can be implemented at scale, bridging research, technology, and community engagement to achieve real-world impact.

Biography:

Dr. Allison Sekuler (FSEP, FPsyS, FAPS) is the President and Chief Scientist at the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI). A graduate of Pomona College (BA, Mathematics and Psychology) and the University of California, Berkeley (PhD, Psychology), Dr. Sekuler is also the President and Chief Scientist and the Sandra A. Rotman Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience at the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Professor at the University of Toronto, and Professor Emerita at McMaster University. Dr. Sekuler has a notable record of scientific achievements in aging, vision science, cognitive neuroscience, and neurotechnology; and her translational research aims to develop methods to prevent, detect, and treat age-related sensory and cognitive decline. She has won numerous research and innovation leadership awards, including being the first Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience (2001-2011) and one of WXN's Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada (2019). Dr. Sekuler has a long record of executive leadership, and currently chairs the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council's Public Impact Value Proposition committee; serves on the Board of Governors for Hamilton Health Sciences and BrainsCAN; is a founding Steering Committee member of the Canadian Brain Research Strategy; is a Scientific Mentor in CDL's Neuro stream; and is an advisor for SXSW Pitch. In her spare time, she proves that you're never too old to learn: Dr. Sekuler picked up her first set of drumsticks a few years ago, and recently earned her Professional Drums Certificate from the Berklee College of Music.