Dementia projects funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada

The Government of Canada has invested more than $600 million in dementia-related initiatives since 2015, including $152 million through the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). These investments align with the objectives of Canada's national dementia strategy.

As part of these investments, PHAC has managed three dementia programs: the Dementia Community Investment; the Dementia Strategic Fund; and the Enhanced Dementia Surveillance Initiative which align with the objectives of Canada's dementia strategy. More than 85 projects have been funded through these programs since 2018. PHAC has also provided $74 million in funding to the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) since 2015. CABHI funds the development, validation, and adoption of innovations related to brain health and has supported more than 550 projects, including 425 unique innovations.

Dementia Community Investment

Since 2018, the Dementia Community Investment (DCI) has provided $4 million annually to support community-based projects that seek to optimize the health and wellbeing of people living with dementia and family/friend caregivers and increase knowledge about dementia and risk and protective factors. As of Fall 2024, DCI has supported more than 30 projects.

DCI also supports the Canadian Dementia Learning and Resource Network (CDLRN). This knowledge hub facilitates a community of practice for organizations funded through the DCI. CDLRN published a playbook in 2024 to showcase DCI project successes and to provide resources for other organizations.

Dementia Strategic Fund

Through an investment of $40 million, between 2019 and 2024 the Dementia Strategic Fund (DSF) supported 40 projects as well as a five-year national public education/awareness campaign. A toolkit of resources from this campaign is available.

DSF projects have:

• Increased awareness about dementia with a focus on risk reduction and creating more dementia-inclusive communities;
• Improved access to high-quality dementia guidance, including person-centred care; and,
• Enhanced provincial and territorial online dementia information resources.

Enhanced Dementia Surveillance Initiative

Through an investment of $10 million, between 2019 and 2024, the Enhanced Dementia Surveillance Initiative (EDSI) supported 15 projects that broadened the scope of surveillance to improve our understanding of dementia and its impact on the lives of Canadians. Projects helped address three key data gaps:

• Dementia by cause, progression stages and impacts;
• Socio-demographic characteristics, risk and protective factors; and,
• Dementia caregivers.

Resources produced through the EDSI will continue to be shared on the EDSI website as they become available. Promising results will also be further assessed to support potential improvements to the national surveillance of dementia.

Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation

Through the Public Health Agency of Canada, Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) received $44 million from 2015 to 2021 and $30 million from 2022 to 2025 to help accelerate innovations in brain health and aging. Starting April 1, 2025, CABHI will receive $39.2 million over five years from the Strategic Science Fund, jointly administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and Health Canada.

CABHI provides support to innovations that address the needs of older adults and those impacted by dementia, focusing on prevention, detection, treatment and care. By engaging a diverse community and strategic partners, CABHI supports solutions that are co-designed with diverse end-user input, independently validated for health, social, and economic impact, and scaled up in care and community settings across Canada. CABHI also fosters knowledge exchange to inform practice and policy, helping to advance work and supports related to aging and brain health.