Schedule

A continental breakfast, including tea and coffee, will be served. Our team will be ready to assist with your registration and answer any questions you may have. Presenters may hang their posters.

Opening remarks from our Department Chair, Dr. Karin Neufeld, and the event co-hosts: Dr. Margaret McKinnon and Dr. Benicio Frey

In this presentation, I explore the fascinating world of cognitive function through the lens of the Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds (CAHHM) and PURE-Mind Cohort studies - two studies led by research at the Population Health Research Institute with National and Global Impact. By diving into data from these extensive cohorts, we will share key findings to date revealing the impact of visceral adiposity on brain health, sex differences in cognitive scores, and the association of diet and cognitive function has led to the identification of dietary patterns that support brain health. Furthermore, I will present compelling evidence on the negative effects of air pollution on cognitive scores, and the protective effect of early educational attainment on cognitive decline.Through this comprehensive analysis, I will provide a roadmap for optimizing brain health via targeted interventions and policies, some underway and others to be designed/implemented. Moderator: Dr. Margaret McKinnon

The Canadian Biomarker Integration Network in Depression (CAN-BIND) is the largest research network of depression in Canada, with a mission to use the individual's own biology to decrease the time from assessment to the right treatment. In this presentation, we will describe the main steps and achievements of 10+ years of research in the discovery and validation of biomarkers of treatment response in depression and its potential impact for brain health more broadly. Moderator: Dr. Sidney Kennedy

In the panel discussions, scientists and clinician-scientists from diverse clinical and research backgrounds will discuss current opportunities for advancements in brain health, and they will address some of the main gaps and challenges to be overcome as we work towards better brain health for all.

This talk will give an overview of the gut brain axis and how the gut microbiome may be a key part of this. I will discuss the overlap between psychiatric and GI pathology and how medications that each discipline uses can help each other. Moderator: Dr. Margaret McKinnon

In the panel discussions, scientists and clinician-scientists from diverse clinical and research backgrounds will discuss current opportunities for advancements in brain health, and they will address some of the main gaps and challenges to be overcome as we work towards better brain health for all.