Dispatches from AAIC 2026 - the Frontline of Alzheimer’s Research
- E39
- 31:11
- August 19th 2026
This episode explores some of the latest dementia research presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in London, UK, with guest Dr. Rebecca M. Edelmayer, Vice President of Scientific Engagement at the Alzheimer’s Association and a leader in global dementia research and scientific collaboration.
Alongside co-hosts Jay Ingram and Dr. Allison Sekuler, Dr. Edelmayer discusses emerging findings that could shape the future of dementia prevention, treatment and care. Topics include research from two studies on brain changes observed in former professional soccer players and physician-supervised use of an oil containing active ingredients of cannabis, which may calm agitation in people living with dementia, respectively.
The conversation also examines a study in Latin America showing that lifestyle interventions designed to reduce dementia risk can be successfully adapted across different cultures and communities. Together, these studies offer new insights into early detection, risk reduction and improving quality of life for people affected by dementia.
Tune in at defydementia.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Guest Speaker
Dr. Rebecca M. Edelmayer
Vice President of Scientific Engagement at the Alzheimer’s Association, where she leads major national and international dementia research initiatives. A neuroscientist and pharmacologist with experience in academia, industry and the nonprofit sector, she advances biomarker development, clinical research, scientific collaboration and education.
Defy Dementia – The podcast for anyone with a brain, by Baycrest
Defy Dementia is an empowering new podcast by Baycrest that is dedicated to helping you reduce your dementia risk. Join us on a captivating exploration of key dementia risk factors as we interview experts, hear inspiring stories from persons with lived experience, and share practical advice to help you optimize your aging journey. Tune in and subscribe at defydementia.org or anywhere you get your podcasts, and unlock the power to age fearlessly and defy dementia.
Each episode will be complemented by a short video, infographic, and related resources to help you take control of your brain health.
Defy Dementia is hosted by Jay Ingram (Canadian author and broadcaster) and Dr. Allison Sekuler (President and Chief Scientist, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, and the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation). The podcast is generously funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Slaight family fundation and CABHI.
About Our Hosts
Jay Ingram has more than 40 years of experience as an author, broadcaster, and science communicator. He was co-host of Discovery Channel's science show, Daily Planet, for 16 years, and was instrumental in helping shape the program format. He also hosted CBC Radio’s Quirks and Quarks for 12 years, earning him two ACTRA Awards, and had a weekly science column in the Toronto Star for 12 years. He has written 20 books. In 1984, Jay was awarded the Sandford Fleming Medal from the Royal Canadian Institute for his efforts to popularize science, and he also earned the Royal Society of Canada’s McNeil Medal for the Public Awareness of Science in 1997. In 2000, Jay was awarded a Michael Smith Award for Science Promotion by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. He is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and in 2009 he was named to The Order of Canada. In addition, he is the 2015 recipient of the Walter C. Alvarez award for medical writing given by the American Medical Writers Association.
Dr. Allison Sekuler (FSEP, FPsyS, FAPS) is the Sandra A. Rotman Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience at Baycrest’s Rotman Research Institute, the President and Chief Scientist at the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education and 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 holds faculty positions in the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto and the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour at McMaster University. Her foundational research uses behavioural and neuroimaging approaches to understand perception, cognition, and the brain; and her clinical and translational research aims to develop methods to prevent, detect, and treat age-related sensory and cognitive decline. Dr. Sekuler has won numerous national and international awards for research, teaching, and leadership – including serving as the country’s first Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience and recently being named one of WXN's Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada (2019).