The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), powered by Baycrest, is driving the future of aging and dementia care through innovations that enhance the lives of older persons and their families.
September is World Alzheimer’s Month, a time to raise awareness about dementia, which affects over 55 million people globally and is expected to impact more than 150 million by 2030, including nearly a million Canadians. The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), powered by Baycrest, leads the charge in defying dementia by advancing innovations that support dementia prevention, detection, treatment, and care. With 45 per cent of dementia cases potentially preventable, CABHI’s work is crucial in developing solutions that reduce dementia risk and improve the aging experience.
Shaping the future of aging and brain health
Gordon, a widower living alone in rural B.C., faces isolation — a key dementia risk factor. Tuktu (tuktu.ca), a support service platform, connects him with a local companion who shares his interests. In a Toronto seniors’ residence, Jane struggles to stay active — another modifiable risk factor. Motiview (motiview.ca), a video library paired with stationary bikes, keeps her moving while reminiscing about childhood trips. Working in a Halifax long-term care home, Angela grapples with balancing administrative tasks while caring for residents. Welbi (welbi.co), a platform integrating recreation programming with health records, saves Angela up to 25 hours each month, allowing more time for resident care. Tuktu, Motiview, and Welbi are among over 400 solutions supported by CABHI — a trailblazing innovation catalyst advancing solutions for aging, brain health, and dementia.
Transforming ideas into real-world impact
Many promising solutions fail because they do not meet users’ needs, work as expected, or get adopted. CABHI ensures innovators understand user needs, refine solutions in real-world settings, and are positioned for success. Through its Community of Innovation and Leap platform, CABHI unites researchers, innovators, older persons, caregivers, healthcare organizations, policymakers, and industry leaders to co-design, test, and scale solutions for maximum impact. By engaging these diverse groups, CABHI combats stigma, influences policy change, and enhances the quality of life for those affected by dementia.
At CABHI, we don’t just promote new innovations; we create the environments that are ready to sustain them.
Dr. Allison Sekuler
A comprehensive approach to innovation
CABHI’s unique and coordinated approach ensures solutions move through the innovation pipeline while creating environments that foster adoption. Programs like Spark provide funding, coaching, and end-user feedback to early-stage innovators. The Mentorship, Capital, and Continuation (MC2) program supports more advanced innovators with commercialization, while the Discover and Adopt (D+A) program prepares organizations to implement new innovations effectively. Through partnerships, CABHI mobilizes critical knowledge and solutions to redefine the future of aging and brain health.
“At CABHI, we don’t just promote new innovations; we create the environments that are ready to sustain them,” says Dr. Allison Sekuler, President and Chief Scientist at CABHI and the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education. “By supporting innovators at every stage and working closely with end users, we ensure groundbreaking solutions make a profound impact on the lives of older persons and their families.”
To learn more about how you can decrease your own dementia risk, listen to the Defy Dementia podcast at defydementia.org. You can test your brain health for free at cogniciti.com. Visit cabhi.com to become part of CABHI’s Community of Innovation and join the charge in defying dementia.
