Joint Statement from the Minister of Health and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health on Women’s Brain Health Day

December 2, 2022 | Ottawa, Ontario | Public Health Agency of Canada

Today is Women's Brain Health Day, to bring attention to the fact that many conditions related to brain health, such as dementia, stroke, and depression, occur more frequently in women than in men.

New investments in Budget 2022 of $30 million over three years to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) for the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), and $20 million over five years to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) for dementia and brain health research, will help further advance our efforts to improve treatments and support Canadians living with brain health conditions and their caregivers.

Our government also collaborates with the Women's Brain Health Institute (WBHI) to support the Wilfred and Joyce Posluns Chair in Women's Brain Health and Aging, held by Dr. Gillian Einstein at the University of Toronto, through a partnership with CIHR, the Posluns Family Foundation, WBHI, Alzheimer Society of Canada, and Ontario Brain Institute. Dr. Einstein's research seeks to understand how gender and sex influence the development of cognitive disorders, and she is mobilizing this research to design policies and interventions to improve brain health and promote wellness in aging for women.

PHAC collaborates with CIHR on the Government of Canada's efforts to support research, surveillance, and programs to promote women's brain health. These efforts support the objectives of the National Dementia Strategy, and include a financial contribution to support BrainFit, a free habit tracking mobile app created by WBHI to help Canadians optimize their brain health.

Brain health and mental health are closely connected. Supporting the mental health and well-being of people in Canada, particularly throughout the pandemic, is a priority for the Government of Canada. If you are struggling, please reach out to the Wellness Together Canada portal and the PocketWell application to access free, confidential mental health and substance use supports.

We invite you to join us in recognizing Women's Brain Health Day by increasing your knowledge and awareness about conditions related to brain health such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and depression, and learning more about actions women can take to protect their brain health.

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P.
The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, P.C., M.P.