Research investment successfully delivers on several key milestones of the National Dementia Strategy
Ottawa – Close to half a million people in Canada aged 65 and older live with dementia. As our population ages, that number is expected to increase. Researching brain health and age-related cognitive impairment will help us develop strategies to prevent dementia, discover new treatments, improve patient outcomes, and raise the quality of life for people affected by dementia, including caregivers.
During Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Mark Holland, Minister of Health, and Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Seniors, announced a new research investment of $8.7 million through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), in partnership with the Azrieli Foundation and its Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, to support 13 research teams who are studying ways to reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in aging.
Through this investment, seven teams are researching risk reduction and care for people with dementia; four teams are studying the short- and long-term health risks for caregivers of people with age-related dementia; one team is investigating the impact of infection and inflammation on brain health; and one team is focusing on Indigenous health research and how to provide culturally appropriate care for those impacted by dementia. These grants will also allow for the training and mentorship of the next generation of dementia researchers in Canada.
The Government of Canada and its partners will continue to invest in research to better understand the causes of dementia, how to prevent it, and how to treat the disease.
“The Government of Canada is committed to promoting the physical and mental health of older persons to enable them to live longer at home. Dementia is a major reason that older adults move out of their homes into long-term care. The initiatives undertaken by CIHR and its partners will help us better understand the causes of dementia, how to prevent it and how to treat it, thereby allowing greater numbers of older adults to age in place.” – Mark Holland, Minister of Health
“We need to understand how to better prevent and treat dementia, so more people will age on their own terms, safely and comfortably. Because it’s not just about years, it’s about quality of life.” – Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Seniors