The government of Canada is committed to supporting the more than 450,000 Canadians with diagnosed dementia, their families and caregivers. We also work with organizations across the country to increase awareness, reduce the risk of developing dementia, reduce stigma, and improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their caregivers.
Today, the Honorable Filomena Tassi, Minister of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, on behalf of the Honorable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, announced $382,740 in funding through the Dementia Strategic Fund (DSF). This new investment will support the work of McMaster University assess the effectiveness of existing online learning resources on iGeriCare and McMaster Optimal Aging Portal to raise awareness of how to reduce the risk of dementia. After assessing the impact on knowledge and intention to engage in harm reduction activities, bilingual e-learning tools will be promoted to help educate Canadians about the impact of healthy lifestyles and managing medical risk factors (like hearing loss and high blood pressure) on brain health.
The project announced today is funded through Budget 2019, which announced $50 million over five years to support the implementation of from Canada first national strategy on dementia, A dementia strategy for Canada: Together we aspire.
Estimate
“While there is currently no cure for dementia, there are important steps we can all take to reduce our risk of developing it. Through this project, McMaster University will help advance our efforts to educate and support Canadians in risk reduction activities such as healthier lifestyles and better brain health, which are essential to reducing the risk of dementia. Through our dementia strategy, we will continue to work with partners to fight dementia by helping everyone adopt healthier lifestyles, raise awareness, reduce stigma and improve quality of life. people with dementia and their carers. »
The Honorable Jean-Yves Duclos
health Minister
“Dementia affects too many Canadians and will increase as our population ages. Reducing the risk of dementia is a top priority for the Government of Canada. We are investing to improve Canadians’ knowledge of dementia and the importance of healthy behaviors. McMaster’s Impressive research and knowledge mobilization efforts in the field of aging and dementia will greatly contribute to this goal. »
The Honorable Filomena Tassi
Minister of the Federal Agency for the Economy Southern Ontario
Fast Facts
Dementia has a substantial and growing impact in Canada and around the world. If current trends continue, it is estimated that the number of people with dementia worldwide could increase from 57 million in 2019 to 83 million by the end of this decade, and 152 million by 2050.
Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a collection of symptoms affecting brain function. It is a chronic condition that usually worsens over time and is often characterized by a decline in cognitive (thinking) abilities such as memory, planning and judgment. Dementia can also cause physical changes like loss of coordination and affect language, mood and behavior.
Studies have identified several modifiable risk factors associated with an increased risk of developing dementia. It is estimated that 12 risk factors could explain 40% of dementia cases worldwide. These risk factors include low education, hearing loss, head trauma, hypertension, obesity, alcohol consumption, depression, smoking, social isolation, diabetes, physical inactivity and air pollution. Other risk factors currently being studied include diet and cholesterol levels.
from Canada The National Dementia Strategy, released in 2019, aims to prevent dementia, advance therapies and find a cure, and improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their caregivers. The strategy is based on the collaborative efforts of many organizations and individuals across the country, including federal, provincial, territorial and local governments; advocacy groups; researchers; health care providers; and academics.
Since 2019, the government of Canada announced more than $300 million in funding that supports the national dementia strategy. This includes $50 million to support key elements of implementation, including a national public education campaign, awareness projects, enhanced dementia counseling and increased dementia surveillance.
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SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada
View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2023/26/c9102.html