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Research continues to transform our understanding of brain health, revealing just how adaptable and resilient our brains are—and how strongly they are shaped by the choices we make every day. By learning new skills and building healthy daily habits, you can take charge of your brain and even change it.
In this special UBC Connects at Robson Square event, you’ll hear from UBC scholars Dr. Lara Boyd, Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose, and Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell. Together, they’ll share insights on how learning reshapes the brain, the role of exercise in aging, and how diet and lifestyle are essential to lifelong brain wellness.
Speaker bios:
Dr. Lara Boyd is a Professor and Distinguished University Scholar at UBC. She is both a neuroscientist and physical therapist. Dr. Boyd directs the Brain Behaviour Lab, which performs research that tests ideas surrounding how behaviour and brain health affect learning. Since joining UBC in 2006, Dr. Boyd has published more than 200 papers and been awarded over $25 million in research funding. She has also won numerous awards for her research and mentorship. Additionally, Dr. Boyd’s TEDx talk “After watching this your brain will not be the same” has been viewed by over 40 million people.
Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose is a physical therapist and a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Healthy Aging at UBC. She directs the Aging, Mobility and Cognitive Health Laboratory, the Vancouver General Hospital’s Falls Prevention Clinic and the Centre for Aging SMART. She also leads the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) Data Collection Site at UBC. Dr. Liu-Ambrose’s research focuses on understanding the role of exercise and other lifestyle interventions, in promoting cognitive and mobility outcomes in older adults. Her research findings have been implemented into clinical practice, community programs and international practice guidelines or recommendations to promote healthy aging.
Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell is a movement disorder neurologist and Associate Professor at UBC. She holds the Marg Meikle Professorship for Research in Parkinson’s disease and directs the Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre. Her research focuses on a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to the treatment and prevention of brain disorders. She is the co-founder of the BC Brain Wellness Program, which promotes active engagement in exercise, art, mindfulness, nutrition and community building. In addition, her research studies the role of the microbiome in Parkinson’s disease and other brain disorders, and the use of ultrasound guidance for botulinum toxin injections in movement disorders.
Moderator:
Dr. Lynn Raymond is a Professor in UBC’s Department of Psychiatry, Co-Director of the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health and Clinic Director of the Centre for Huntington Disease. As a clinician-scientist, she brings a unique perspective to her work on neurodegenerative diseases, bridging the gap between research and patient care. Her lab investigates the mechanisms that lead to Huntington Disease, focusing on changes in brain circuits and glutamate receptor function.