Statement from the Minister of Health on World Alzheimer's Day
Statement
September 21, 2022| Ottawa, ON| Public Health Agency of Canada
Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, is having a substantial and growing impact in Canada and around the world. The World Health Organization estimates the number of people living with this condition worldwide will increase from 55 million to 78 million by the end of this decade. Today, on World Alzheimer's Day, it is important that we come together to raise awareness about Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
The Government of Canada remains committed to supporting Canadians living with dementia, their families and caregivers. In 2019, we released Canada's first national dementia strategy, which sets out three objectives:
- Prevent dementia
- Advance therapies and find a cure
- Improve the quality of life of people living with dementia and caregivers.
Since its launch in 2019, the national dementia strategy has been supported by federal investments in research and innovation, community-based projects, awareness, surveillance, and guidance. The successful implementation of Canada's national dementia strategy relies on the efforts of many organizations and individuals across the country, including federal, provincial, territorial and local governments; advocacy groups; researchers; health care providers; and academics. The Government of Canada will continue to work collaboratively with these organizations and individuals on the implementation of the strategy.
As part of our commitment to supporting Canadians living with dementia, their families and caregivers, we will continue to work to create a Canada where everyone living with dementia and their caregivers feel valued and supported, have an optimal quality of life, and where dementia is better understood.
Many of us are, or will be, impacted by dementia at some point in our lives, either through a personal diagnosis or that of someone close to us. For this reason, we all benefit from efforts to reduce the stigma around dementia and in making our communities more age-friendly and dementia-inclusive.
Today, for World Alzheimer's Day, I encourage you to visit Canada.ca/dementia to learn about the condition, what Canada is doing to support the national dementia strategy and the steps you can take to help lower the risk of developing dementia. You will also find tips on how to communicate with people living with dementia and how to address dementia-related stigma by making our communities more age-friendly and dementia-inclusive.
Together, we can all play a role in reducing stigma and making our communities more supportive for people living with or affected by dementia.
The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P.
Contacts
Marie-France Proulx
Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health
613-957-0200
Media Relations
Public Health Agency of Canada
613-957-2983
media@hc-sc.gc.ca