Defy Dementia
Meet the Hosts
Your guides on the journey to brain health and dementia prevention
Dr. Allison Sekuler
Co-Host
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).
Jay Ingram
Co-Host
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.
The Defy Dementia Team:
Dr. Meaghan Adams
Dr. Rosanne Aleong
Sophie Boisvert-Hearn
Dr. Faith Boutcher
Dustin Canter
Monique Cheng
Dr. Sylvain Dubroqua
John Guarenas
Jimmy Hew-Sang
Alexandra Ho
Jay Ingram
Kimberly Krezonoski
Natalie Leventhal
Kataryna Nemethy
Suzanne Pede
Ben Schaub
Dr. Allison Sekuler
Dr. Adriana Shnall
Kimberly Taylor
Kevin Tran
Cover Art:
Tilby and Forbis
Music:
Steve Dodd
Translation:
Soludoc
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). This program is generously supported by the Slaight Family Foundation.
The first season of the program was generously funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Getting Out from Under Depression
Depression is a dementia risk factor. In this special episode marking Blue Monday – a day to discuss mental health…
The Science of Giving Back
Volunteering has been associated with better self-reported health and reduced loneliness. Now, science is suggesting that it may also boost…
Defy Dementia – Be Pet Smart!
While the companionship of pets has been studied in the context of cardiovascular health, their role in protecting brain health…
Defy Dementia – Healthy Mouth, Healthy Brain
Everything is connected. Like the connection between oral hygiene and brain health. In this episode of Defy Dementia, we’ll join…
Never Quit Quitting – Healing the Smoker’s Brain
This episode explores the powerful hold of nicotine addiction and how quitting smoking can transform not only heart health but…
Jay & Allison’s Excellent Brain Health Adventure
Lifestyle risk factors, like poor sleep, social isolation, and a lack of exercise may have a significant impact on dementia…
Coping with Challenging Behaviours
In 2021, Diana De Faveri’s life turned “upside down, real fast” when her mother was diagnosed with corticobasal syndrome, a…
Living with Pride in the Face of Dementia
In this special Pride episode, we learn about the increased risk of dementia facing those in the 2SLGBTQI communities, and…
In Focus - Vision Loss & Brain Health
This episode explores the connection between untreated vision loss and brain health. We follow 78-year-old Walter Kuntz, a retired Canada…
Upcoming Events
Defy Dementia™ Virtual Podcast Club — The Heart Of A Healthy Brain
Virtual Event
February 26, 2026 │10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST
Zoom (virtual event)
Join us for a free Defy Dementia on the Road — A Podcast Club Experience event, for a live conversation where you can ask experts your questions about how caring for your heart can also help keep your brain healthy across the lifespan. Expect an engaging, interactive discussion combining lived experience, expert insight, and audience Q&A. We’ll examine how cardiovascular health affects brain health and dementia risk, and how everyday choices—such as physical activity, nutrition, sleep, stress management, and social connection—can support both heart and brain health. The session will link current science to real-world practice and share practical, accessible strategies across the lifespan.
Before the event, we invite you to listen to the featured podcast Episode 21: Defy Dementia – The Heart of a Healthy Brain ahead of time and jot down any reflection questions or insights.
Past Recorded Events
U of T Where You Are: Defy Dementia
University of Toronto — January 14, 2026
Defy Dementia on the Road Meet the Experts -- Pets and Dementia
Webinar — January 12, 2026
Virtual Podcast Club - Healthy Mouth, Healthy Brain
Webinar — November 13, 2025
Never Quit Quitting – Healing the Smoker's Brain
Webinar — October, 2025
Empowering You to Reduce Your Dementia Risk
Toronto Metropolitan University — June 26, 2025
Empowering You to Reduce Your Dementia Risk
Calgary Public Library — April 23, 2025
Virtual Exercise
Webinar — March 18, 2025
Live to Be Social — Be Social to Live
Webinar — January 28, 2025
Long-Term Care Transitions
Webinar — December 2, 2024
Shepherd Village – Boost Your Brain Health
Webinar — November 25, 2024
Lightening the Load With Vision and Hearing
Webinar — October 21, 2024
Resources
Videos
