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Episode 1: Senses Episode 2: Loneliness Episode 3: Cognitive Engagement Episode 4: Exercise Episode 5: Nutrition Episode 6: Brain-Health Resolution Episode 7: Air Pollution Episode 8: Sleep Episode 9: Keep it Simple Episode 10: Stress Episode 11: Caregiving Episode 12: DNA Episode 13: Women’s Brain Health Episode 14: Stick it to Stigma Episode 15: The Why Behind Defy Episode 16: Lying for Love Episode 17: Music, Memories and the Mind Episode 18: Well-Being Episode 19: Brain Injury and Dementia Risk Episode 20: Transitions Episode 21: The Heart of a Healthy Brain Episode 22: No Brain Left Behind Episode 23: On the Rocks Episode 24: In Focus Episode 25: Living with Pride Episode 26: Coping Episode 27: Brain Health Adventure Episode 28: Healing the Smoker’s Brain Episode 29: Healthy Mouth, Healthy Brain Episode 30: Be Pet Smart! Episode 31: The Science of Giving Back Episode 32: Getting Out from Under Depression

Defy Dementia™ Episode 32: Getting Out from Under Depression
 

Depression is a dementia risk factor. In this special episode marking Blue Monday – a day to discuss mental health – we’ll discuss the relationship between depression and dementia. We’ll hear from Faith Rockburne, Peer Support Specialist with St. Michael's Hospital and an Educator at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, as she shares her journey with depression, and the tools and strategies she used to break her cycle of mental illness, including never losing hope. And Dr. Zahinoor Ismail, Clinician Scientist and Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, Epidemiology, and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, will share his learnings and insights on the link between depression and dementia risk, and some of the ways depression can be treated and managed. Tune in at defydementia.org, or anywhere you get your podcasts.


 
Episode 32: Transcript Coming Soon

 

Key Messages

  • Major depression is a risk factor for dementia.
  • ​There is hope and there are options for treatment.
  • Prompt treatment is key ― the longer lasting the depressive episode and/or the greater number of untreated episodes, the greater the dementia risk. 


Key Actions

  • Seek help from a medical professional, rather than trying to manage on your own. 
  • ​Friends and family should offer support and not judge. Depression is a medical condition.


Resources

 

Learn more about our guests

Faith Rockburne is a Lived Experience Advocate for mental health. Since 2013, Faith has shared her journey with mental illness with a wide variety of audiences to help break the stigma of mental illness. She is also a Peer Support Specialist with St. Michael's Hospital and an Educator at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. 

Dr. Zahinoor Ismail is a Clinician Scientist and Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, Epidemiology, and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary. He is certified in Behavioural Neurology & Neuropsychiatry and Geriatric Psychiatry, with over 25 years of clinical experience. He has published almost 350 scientific papers, is Chair of the Canadian Conference on Dementia and of the Canadian Consensus Conference on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia Guideline Group, and was Co-Chair of the Government of Canada Ministerial Advisory Board for Dementia from 2023-2025.