A dementia strategy for Canada: Together we achieve - 2025 annual report

Contents

• Minister's message
• Introduction
• Reporting on the results of federal investments in dementia
• Progress on the dementia strategy's national objectives
  • Strategy objective: Preventing dementia through risk reduction
    • Trends for risk reduction show both progress and areas for greater effort
    • Change over time in public opinion research results on risk reduction and prevention
    • New resources supporting progress on dementia risk reduction
    • National public education campaign: reaching millions to raise awareness on risk reduction
    • Pursuing progress on risk reduction through research and innovation
  • Strategy objective: Advancing therapies and finding a cure
    • Increasing federal investment in dementia research
    • Pursuing progress on advancing therapies through research and innovation
  • Strategy objective: Improving the quality of life of people living with dementia and dementia caregivers
    • Some aspects of quality of life appear to be improving
    • Public opinion research results on quality of life suggest priorities for future efforts
    • Project resources supporting improved quality of life
    • National public education campaign on dementia: Reducing stigma and enabling communities to be more dementia-inclusive
    • Enhancing dementia surveillance to support quality of life
    • Pursuing quality of life through research and innovation
• Supporting people living with dementia and dementia caregivers during climate-related emergencies
• Conclusion
• Appendices
  • Appendix A: Trends in risk and protective factors across Canada
    • Dementia risk and protective factors
    • Dementia risk and protective factors across Canada
• Endnotes

Minister's message

I am pleased to share this report on the national dementia strategy with Canadians, which highlights the results of key dementia-focused investments by the Government of Canada. Since the strategy's release in 2019, more than $400 million has been invested through the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). These investments support the implementation of the strategy and have helped us move closer to its ambitious aspirations.

Federal investments have advanced dementia research, improved data about dementia in Canada and raised awareness about dementia risk and dementia-inclusive communities. They have improved access to high-quality guidance and supported efforts to enhance the wellbeing of those living with dementia and dementia caregivers.

To date, 86 projects have been undertaken as a result of dementia funding provided by PHAC to partners across Canada. These projects have produced a wide range of resources to advance risk reduction and to support people living with dementia and dementia caregivers. They have helped people living with dementia stay engaged in their communities, promoted the adoption of person-centred care, delivered improved tools to paid and unpaid dementia care providers, and encouraged Canadians to take steps to reduce dementia risk. Several projects have focused on populations at higher risk of developing dementia or facing barriers to equitable care. They engaged these populations to develop culturally appropriate and culturally safe resources. Collectively, PHAC-funded projects reached individuals more than 236 million times, sharing information, knowledge and resources that continue to be publicly available.

Through CIHR, research investments are improving our understanding of dementia risk factors and effective ways to reduce risk. They are also providing more options for therapies that manage and slow the progression of symptoms, and support the quality of life of those living with dementia and dementia caregivers.

Since the strategy's release, the Government has funded Canada's first national, multi-year dementia public education campaign, reaching millions of individuals. The campaign has delivered clear and effective messages on reducing dementia risk, supporting positive interactions with people living with dementia and challenging stereotypes that contribute to stigma. Resources from that campaign are available through an online toolkit for others to continue sharing key messages and information.

As with previous reports, the 2025 report includes data points related to the strategy's objectives which have been tracked over time, providing insight into the state of dementia in Canada. It also shares key findings from PHAC's public opinion research projects. These results suggest that Canadians are increasingly aware that dementia risk can be reduced and more are intentionally taking steps to reduce their risk. At the same time, continued efforts to deepen public understanding of risk reduction and to support healthier environments are needed. The data also show that negative stereotypes about the abilities of people living with dementia remain common in Canada, implying that there is a lack of understanding that symptoms often vary across individuals.

Looking ahead, the challenge of providing quality dementia care will continue as the number of those living with dementia in Canada is expected to increase in tandem with our growing and aging population. As provinces and territories play a central role in providing health care in Canada, they are an important part of the implementation of Canada's national dementia strategy. Many other organizations also play a role. The federal government will continue to collaborate with these partners to advance the strategy's objectives. Together, we can build communities that are more inclusive of those living with dementia, strengthen resources for those providing care, and make meaningful progress that improves quality of life for people living with dementia and those who support them.

While there is still much more work to be done to achieve our ambitious vision, each year has marked continued progress in implementing the national dementia strategy. My sincere thanks to all who have contributed along the way.

Introduction

The 2025 report to Parliament continues to gauge progress toward the national dementia strategy's ambitious aspirations by drawing on public health data and public opinion research results related to preventing dementia, advancing therapies, and improving the quality of life of people living with dementia and dementia caregivers.^{Footnote 1,Footnote 2} It also shares an overview of the reach and results of dementia initiatives at the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) since the release of the strategy in 2019.

Data points on prevention have been updated and expanded to align with the 2024 Lancet Commission on Dementia findings, which have added two risk factors. While some risk trends show improvement in Canada, others have remained stable or worsened. Data points related to dementia research investment and activity show a steady increase over the longer term. Data points related to quality of life also show improvement. However, a much higher percentage of dementia caregivers continue to experience distress compared to caregivers of those without dementia.

The report shares insights from public opinion research undertaken for PHAC since 2020, noting the nature and degree of change for repeated questions.^{Footnote 3} Results from this research show how Canadians' awareness, knowledge, and attitudes are changing over time. For example, more people now believe dementia has a major impact in Canada (43% in 2024 compared with 35% in 2020). At the same time, the number reporting that they know someone with dementia has remained constant at about three-quarters (74% in 2024 versus 75% in 2020).

Findings from recent research about the unique challenges faced by people living with dementia and dementia caregivers during climate-related events and the tools to support safety and quality of life during these events are also highlighted in this year's report. These events are becoming more common in Canada and can be especially difficult to navigate for those living with dementia.

"Extreme weather events driven by climate change are increasingly becoming a part of our daily lives. Some populations, such as people living with dementia and dementia caregivers, are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate-related emergencies than others. They can face significant challenges during a climate-related event, particularly when an evacuation is required. We need to work together to ensure that the needs of those living with dementia and their caregivers are considered in all aspects of emergency planning to keep our communities strong, healthy and resilient."

– Dr. Natasha Crowcroft, Acting Chief Public Health Officer of Canada

This annual report shares information that was current as of June 2025.

Figure 1 - Text description

A Dementia Strategy for Canada: Together We Aspire

• Vision: a Canada in which all people living with dementia and caregivers are valued and supported, quality of life is optimized, and dementia is prevented, well understood, and effectively treated.
• Principles:
  • Quality of life
  • Diversity
  • Human rights
  • Evidence-informed
  • Results-focused

National objectives	Areas of focus
Prevent dementia	Advance research to identify and assess modifiable risk and protective factors Build the evidence base to inform and promote the adoption of effective interventions Expand awareness of modifiable risk and protective factors and effective interventions Support measures that increase the contribution of social and build environments to healthy living and adoption of healthy living behaviours
Advance therapies and find a cure	Establish and review strategic dementia research priorities for Canada Increase dementia research Develop innovative and effective therapeutic approaches Engage people living with dementia and dementia caregivers in the development of therapies Increase adoption of research findings that support the strategy, including in clinical practice and through community supports
Improve the quality of life of people living with dementia and caregivers	Eliminate stigma and promote measures that create supportive and safe dementia-inclusive communities Promote and enable early diagnosis to support planning and action that maximizes quality of life Address the importance of access to quality care, from diagnosis through end of life Build the capacity of care providers, including through improved access to and adoption of evidence-based and culturally appropriate guidelines for standards of care Improve support for family/friend caregivers, including through access to resources and supports

• Pillars:
  • Collaboration
  • Research
  • Innovation
  • Surveillance and data
  • Information resources
  • Skilled workforce

Reporting on the results of federal investments in dementia

Since the release of the national dementia strategy in 2019, the Government of Canada has invested more than $400 million to support progress on the strategy's objectives (see Figure 1). This investment includes almost $150 million from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and more than $256 million through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).^{Footnote 4}

Dementia investments through the Public Health Agency of Canada

PHAC has the lead federal role in the implementation of the national dementia strategy. It manages the Dementia Community Investment (DCI), and was responsible for managing the Dementia Strategic Fund (DSF) and the Enhanced Dementia Surveillance Initiative (EDSI) investments from 2019 to 2024. The DSF included funding for a national public education campaign and for public opinion research to improve our understanding of dementia in Canada. Beyond managing these investments, PHAC produces the annual reports to Parliament on the strategy and provides secretariat support for the Ministerial Advisory Board on Dementia. It also provided $31 million in funding since 2019 to the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), an organization that fosters collaboration on promising innovations in older adult care settings, academia, industry, and entrepreneurial ventures.

Working with project partners to advance progress on the national dementia strategy

The 86 projects funded to date through the DCI, the DSF, and the EDSI have been designed to:

• increase awareness, including knowledge of risk factors and how to create dementia-inclusive communities (25 projects);
• improve access to high-quality dementia guidance (11 projects);^{Footnote 5}
• enhance provincial/territorial online dementia information resources (2 projects);
• improve understanding of the prevalence and effects of dementia on our communities (15 projects);
• improve the health and wellbeing of people living with dementia and dementia caregivers (30 projects);
• support the collaboration among funded projects to share findings and best practices across Canada (1 project); and
• update the World Health Organization risk reduction guidelines and support the implementation of the Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia, including by assistingMember States to participate in the associated Global Dementia Observatory (2 projects).

Figure 2 - Text description

Map of Canada with numbers that represent dementia project sites in each province and territory for projects funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada (number of sites is in table 1 below).

Table 1: Location of PHAC dementia projects

	Total projects funded	International projects	National projects	Provincial/ territorial projects	Number of project sites
DCI	31	0	5	26	142
DSF	40	2	17	21	54
EDSI	15	0	5	10	33
Total	86	2	27	57	229

	NL	PE	NS	NB	QC	ON	MB	SK	AB	BC	YT	NT	NU
DCI	0	2	8	5	28	53	13	3	6	23	0	1	0
DSF	9	0	3	6	3	9	0	5	8	8	3	0	0
EDSI	1	1	2	2	6	8	2	2	3	5	1	0	0
Total	10	3	13	13	37	70	15	10	17	36	4	1	0

Gathering the results of Public Health Agency of Canada dementia projects

This section shares information about the reach of projects funded through the Public Health Agency of Canada's (PHAC) DCI and DSF and the resources they developed. This information is drawn from annual and final reports submitted by the organizations managing the projects.^{Footnote 6} Projects are required to report on, for example, the number of individuals reached directly; the number, types and reach of resources and other outputs produced; and the impact of their projects.

Table 2: Categories, number and reach of resources and other outputs from DCI and DSF projects^{Footnote 7}

Traditional media resources (e.g., magazines, newspapers, radio, TV, press releases) 210+ resources 161,399,000+ times accessed	Marketing and awareness campaign materials 40+ resources 60,844,000+ times accessed
Social media 1,690+ resources 10,190,000+ times accessed	Websites and webpages 180+ resources 1,442,000+ times accessed
Videos and films 450+ resources 1,203,000+ times viewed	Educational events (e.g., webinars, presentations, conferences and lectures) 950+ resources 142,000+ times accessed
Factsheets and newsletters 500+ resources 636,000+ times accessed	Podcasts and other audio resources 100+ resources 297,000+ times accessed
Academic publications (e.g., articles, literature reviews, and conference posters) 110+ resources 293,000+ times accessed	Posters and infographics 270+ resources 118,000+ times accessed
Toolkits, manuals, booklets, guidelines and best practices 250+ resources 88,000+ times accessed	Frequently asked questions documents, tip sheets, and pamphlets 130+ resources 57,000+ times accessed
Games and quizzes 7 resources 34,000+ times accessed	Training activities (e.g., e-learning modules and workshops) 400+ resources 28,000+ individuals reached
Digital applications 5 resources 28,000+ times accessed	Consultation and engagement with 7,000+ individuals

Across 62 DCI and DSF projects,^{Footnote 8} more than 5,400 resources have been produced. Together, these projects directly reached at least 56 million individuals. When considering, for example, traditional media channels^{Footnote 9} and marketing campaigns, these projects reached Canadians at least 236 million times. Projects used a variety of channels, formats and languages to reach specific populations with tailored and culturally accessible content.^{Footnote 10}

The indicators used to demonstrate impact vary according to the focus of the project. For example, awareness-raising projects reported on gains in knowledge or skills related to the following:

• risk factors for dementia;
• dementia-inclusive communities;
• person-centred support, communication and care; and
• the abilities of people living with dementia, such as their potential to experience a good quality of life and to remain active in their community.

Some projects reported on changes in the views and behaviours of participants, such as:

• taking steps to reduce dementia risk;
• comfort levels interacting with or providing care to a person living with dementia;
• talking to a health professional about dementia or sharing a dementia diagnosis with family, friends, a neighbour or an employer; and
• taking steps to make their community more dementia-inclusive.

Projects that improved access to dementia guidance resources reported on whether participants expect these resources to improve dementia care and the quality of life of people living with dementia and dementia caregivers. They also reported on whether participants intend to use the resources and found them easy to adopt, and whether they would recommend them to others. When relevant, participants were asked whether the resources would help them feel better prepared to provide care to people living with dementia or those at higher risk of developing dementia. Some projects also reported on whether participants felt they had better access to the resources and training needed to deliver quality care and whether they felt better equipped to navigate the health care and other support systems.

A summary of these results can be found in the sections on prevention and quality of life below.

Raising awareness through the national public education campaign on dementia

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) undertook a national public education campaign on dementia between 2021 and 2024 that complemented the efforts of Dementia Community Investment (DCI) and Dementia Strategic Fund (DSF) projects. The campaign's multiple phases focused on reducing stigma, including enabling communities to be more dementia-inclusive, and on reducing the risk of developing dementia.

Figure 3 - Text description

• 2021
  • January – May
    • Risk reduction phase
    • Stigma/dementia-inclusive communities phase
• 2022
  • January – March
    • Stigma/dementia-inclusive communities phase
    • Stigma/dementia-inclusive communities spokesperson tour
  • Sept. – Oct.
    • Stigma/dementia-inclusive communities phase
• 2023
  • January-March
    • Risk reduction phase
    • Risk reduction spokesperson tour
  • Feb.-Mar.
    • Risk reduction social media influencer marketing
  • Sept.-Oct.
    • Stigma/dementia-inclusive communities phase
  • Oct.-Dec.
    • Risk reduction phase
• 2024
  • January – March
    • Risk reduction phase
  • January – June
    • Stigma/dementia-inclusive communities phase

The campaign's strategy and messaging were informed by public opinion research results and consultation with experts. The use of multiple channels and formats helped to reach millions of people across Canada.

• Advertising on television, digital platforms, out-of-home^{Footnote 11} and print media generated 227.7 million impressions.^{Footnote 12} Elements included five newly produced video ads, web banners, ads placed in public spaces such as transit stations and casual dining establishments, content integration into two television game shows (Family Feud and Au Suivant), search engine marketing,^{Footnote 13} and interactive quizzes.
• Two national public relations tours took place – one on reducing stigma and the other on dementia risk reduction – each with two spokespersons (one Anglophone and one Francophone). Their interviews with media resulted in 288 media placements^{Footnote 14} and generated approximately 35.2 million impressions.
• PHAC worked with six social media influencers to promote dementia risk reduction content on their channels, resulting in 182,000 impressions and more than 7,000 engagements.^{Footnote 15}
• Media organizations were provided with sixteen articles, one radio spot, and three videos to share key messages. Their use of this material resulted in a potential audience reach of over 40.5 million, based on the media organizations using this material.
• A dementia risk reduction poster was developed and shared through an email network of Indigenous communities across the country, reaching approximately 21,000 subscribers.

The messages shared through this campaign encouraged people to visit the Government of Canada dementia website (Canada.ca/dementia) for more information. While the campaign was active, there were over 1.1 million visits to Government of Canada webpages related to dementia. This number was a significant increase compared with periods when the campaign was not active. For example, from September 18, 2023 to March 31, 2024, average daily visits increased by over sevenfold to 479,500 visits to the website, compared with the pre-campaign period that year.

The Canada.ca/dementia website has been expanded significantly since 2019. It now includes information on symptoms and treatment, how to reduce risk, tips on how to help reduce stigma and create more dementia-inclusive communities, and examples of activities that support the implementation of the national dementia strategy.

Videos, social media images and online quizzes that were developed for the campaign continue to be available for use through the Dementia Awareness Resources Toolkit.

Enhancing public health surveillance data on dementia

Through the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)'s Enhanced Dementia Surveillance Initiative (EDSI), 15 projects have strengthened the surveillance and data pillar of the national dementia strategy. Project findings are better informing future public health actions across settings and sectors. Provincial and territorial governments, federal and national organizations as well as universities across Canada contributed data to this work.

These projects developed new methods and uncovered insights while engaging Canadians living with dementia and caregivers, when possible. They focused on three priority data gaps: dementia progression and outcomes; specific populations and risk factors; and dementia caregivers. Some projects covered more than one of these gaps.

More than 20 resources from these EDSI projects have been released to date. These resources have inspired further work such as analyzing whether other health conditions occur before or after dementia. With this information, care providers can better understand the timing of other chronic conditions to more appropriately inform management practices.

Results from the EDSI have been shared in many settings, including national and international conferences (such as the Alzheimer Association International Conference). Further, through a knowledge mobilization pilot, project resources have been shared electronically with more than 260 dementia stakeholders across Canada from academia, non-governmental organizations and government. These stakeholders also received a survey to help PHAC better understand surveillance priorities and needs. Survey results will be shared next year in the Report to Parliament and will inform future work and surveillance products. Although EDSI project funding has ended, knowledge mobilization efforts are ongoing, and associated results will continue to be used and analyzed. Some projects are expected to release additional findings.

Dementia investments through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Research and innovation is an essential enabling pillar of the national dementia strategy. As the federal lead for dementia research, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) supports this pillar through investments that advance all three strategy objectives: prevent dementia, advance therapies and find a cure, and improve the quality of life for both people living with dementia and dementia caregivers.

Since 2019, CIHR has invested more than $256 million in dementia-related research. These investments have expanded the scale and scope of research through the development and sharing of new knowledge, including through more than 1,500 peer-reviewed publications generated from projects funded in the last five years.^{Footnote 17} The majority of these resources were articles (approximately three-quarters), followed by publications, preprints, and chapters. These materials have achieved significant reach with at least 25,200 citations, 2,600 news mentions, 20 policy mentions, 40 patent mentions, and 5 clinical guidelines mentions.^{Footnote 18}

As an example of the impact of CIHR's dementia investment, the nominated principal investigators^{Footnote 19} of completed CIHR grants reported results including:

• creating new health knowledge;
• translating knowledge from the research setting into real-world applications;
• improving health for Canadians;
• creating more effective health services and products; and
• strengthening the Canadian health care system.^{Footnote 20}

They also reported achieving a range of important research outcomes including advanced or newly developed:

• research methods, tools, and instruments;
• guidance for patients and the public; and
• policies, guidelines and programs.^{Footnote 21}

Figure 4 - Text description

	Advanced	Newly developed
Research method	43.5%	23.2%
Tool, technique, instrument or procedure	30.4%	23.2%
Replication of research findings	43.5%	5.8%
Theory	31.9%	17.4%
Findings cited by others	31.9%	8.7%
Information or guidance for patients or public	20.3%	10.1%
Policies, guidelines or programs	18.8%	2.9%
Professional practice	18.8%	2.9%
Patients' or public behaviour(s)	8.7%	7.2%
Software/Database	11.6%	4.3%
Intellectual property claim	5.8%	0.0%
Spin-off company	2.9%	2.9%
Vaccines/Drugs	4.3%	1.4%
Product licence	2.9%	1.4%
Patent (filled or obtained)	2.9%	0.0%
Direct cost savings	0.0%	1.4%

Progress on the dementia strategy's national objectives

Implementation of the strategy is a shared effort across all levels of government in Canada as well as many non-governmental organizations. While there are many activities taking place across the country, this report highlights actions supported by federal funding through the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to advance elements of the strategy that fall within these two organizations' mandates.

Strategy objective: Preventing dementia through risk reduction

Data point trends in this report related to dementia risk reduction show advances as well as areas requiring continued effort. New data point sources are included to align with the updated 2024 dementia risk findings from the Lancet Commission. These new sources relate to traumatic brain injury, high LDL cholesterol, air pollution, depression, lower reading literacy levels, uncorrected vision problems, and untreated hearing loss.

Many organizations are actively working on dementia risk reduction, contributing to progress toward the dementia strategy's "prevent dementia" objective. The highlights below illustrate how the results of PHAC and CIHR investments have supported progress toward the strategy's aspirations for risk reduction. These aspirations include:

• having a complete understanding of the risk and protective factors linked to dementia, their impacts and interactions;
• ensuring effective prevention resources and interventions are available and supported by a strong evidence base;
• increasing awareness among people living in Canada of actions that prevent dementia; and
• ensuring that Canadians have access to built and social environments that support their ability to pursue healthy living in ways that may reduce their risk of developing dementia.

Trends for risk reduction show both progress and areas for greater effort

Surveillance data continue to indicate a decline in the rate of newly diagnosed cases of dementia in Canada. This decline may be linked to improvements in risk and protective factors including management of chronic conditions such as hypertension, cholesterol and diabetes. The number of new cases has declined from 1,507 new cases in 2012–2013 to 1,411 new cases in 2022–2023 (per 100,000 Canadians aged 65 and older, age-standardized).^{Footnote 22}

Trends related to the prevalence of dementia risk factors that are moving in a better direction include more people in Canada with higher levels of education, which is a protective factor, and a reduced number who report smoking. Risk factors that have remained at relatively stable levels in recent years include the frequency of heavy alcohol use, diabetes, hypertension, traumatic brain injury (measured as head injuries or concussions) among individuals and high LDL cholesterol. Trends for obesity, lack of physical activity, social isolation, depression, reading literacy levels, and uncorrected vision problems have gotten worse.

Air pollution is another risk factor for dementia. One type of air pollution, fine particulate matter, is associated with increased risk in both indoor and outdoor settings. Those with some pre-existing conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, are expected to be affected more than others. Every 1 μg/m3 increase in PM 2.5 is associated with increased dementia risk. While Canada's number has dropped since 2001, it remains above the World Health Organization global air quality guidelines, which recommend a mean annual fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) concentration of less than 5 μg/m3.^{Footnote 23}

There is sufficient evidence to link untreated hearing loss to the risk of developing dementia. Risk increases as the severity of the hearing loss increases. There is a lack of recent measured data on the number of individuals in Canada with hearing loss. However, among 8.2 million adults in Canada aged 40–79 years with hearing loss between 2012 and 2015, the majority (77%, or 6.3 million) had unperceived hearing loss.^{Footnote 24} As unperceived hearing loss is more likely to go untreated, the Lancet recommendation to treat hearing loss reinforces the importance of detecting it, especially in more severe cases.

See Appendix A for further details on the level of risk factors in Canada, including a breakdown across provinces and territories.

Change over time in public opinion research results on risk reduction and prevention

Public opinion research on dementia undertaken for PHAC since 2020 has had a consistent focus on risk reduction.^{Footnote 26} Research topics have included understanding of risk factors, self-assessment of personal risk, steps being taken to reduce risk and sources of motivation to take those steps. Analysis of trends in public opinion research results below shows improvements in risk reduction knowledge since 2020, suggesting that PHAC's national dementia education campaign and funded risk reduction projects may have had a positive impact.

Risk reduction knowledge is improving

Knowledge among Canadians about some aspects of dementia risk appears to be improving. For example, awareness that it is true that dementia risk can be reduced has increased from 74% of respondents in 2020 to 85% in 2024. As well, respondents who responded "don't know / prefer not to answer" on whether risk can be reduced decreased from 15% in 2020 to 11% in 2024. Awareness of the evidence-based links between dementia and chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes has also increased since 2020 (see Figure 5). Further, a higher proportion of respondents in 2024 correctly recognized that some ethnic and cultural groups are likely to be at higher risk of developing dementia.

Action to reduce risk is helpful even when an individual may have a higher genetic risk; however, more could be done to improve Canadians' knowledge in this area. Close to one-third of respondents under 75 (33%) in 2024 identified genetics as a top-of-mind risk factor that might increase the likelihood of developing dementia (similar to 2022, at 34%). Further, 55% of respondents in 2024 believe that genetics are likely to increase their own personal risk.^{Footnote 27} However, research suggests that adopting healthy behaviours can counteract genetic risk among most individuals with a higher genetic risk. Other risk factors most commonly mentioned as top of mind include a lack of physical activity (27% in 2024) and lack of cognitive stimulation (24%).

Figure 5 - Text description

		Don't know	False	True
Some ethnic/cultural groups have a higher risk of developing dementia	2020	36%	32%	32%
	2024	39%	24%	37%
The risk of developing dementia is higher among people with chronic health conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes	2020	34%	29%	37%
	2024	28%	14%	58%

Trends in self-assessment of personal dementia risk remain relatively stable

Public opinion research has explored how Canadians assess their own risk for developing dementia and the reasons behind these perceptions. About two-thirds of respondents consistently rate their personal risk as low to moderate (68% in 2024 and 2022).^{Footnote 29} However, the proportion who perceive themselves as being at high risk increased in 2024 (21% versus 15% in 2022), with a corresponding drop in those who don't know their personal risk.

In 2024, common reasons for a perception of moderate to high personal risk included having family members with dementia (64%), not exercising as much as they should (45%), and having an ongoing health issue (38%), all up slightly since 2022.^{Footnote 30} While dementia is not an inevitable part of aging, some groups are more likely to believe that it is, including those identifying as: South Asian, Southeast Asian or Black; those under 35; and men.^{Footnote 31} Among the 31% who rated their own risk of dementia as low in 2024 (roughly the same as 2022), respondents most commonly said it was because they challenge their brain regularly, did not have family members who have or have had dementia, and they maintain healthy eating habits (see Figure 6).^{Footnote 32}

Figure 6 - Text description

	2022	2024
I challenge my brain regularly	72%	82%
No one in my family has or has had dementia	64%	69%
I maintain healthy eating habits	58%	66%

Optimism is growing about the ability to reduce personal risk

When asked about their perceived ability to reduce personal risk, respondents were generally optimistic. Three-quarters believe they can reduce their own risk by a moderate to high extent (76% in 2024; up from 67% in 2022).^{Footnote 34} A high perceived ability to reduce personal risk was more common among respondents identifying as Black (38%), Hispanic (38%), and Southeast Asian (32%), and less common for members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community (19%).

More individuals are taking steps toward dementia risk reduction

Dementia risk reduction can have a positive impact at all stages of life, although some risk factors may be more important to address at midlife or later life. Public opinion research suggests more people now believe risk reduction efforts should begin before age 35 (24% in 2024 versus 13% in 2022), while 32% believe preventative actions should start at any age (compared with 25% in 2022). This suggests an accurate and growing understanding of the value of risk reduction action at any age as well as starting early in life.

There is an encouraging trend of more respondents taking intentional steps to reduce their dementia risk, rising to around one third (34%) in 2024 from 22% in 2020. However, more than half of respondents (57%) in 2024 felt they needed to do more to reduce their own risk, down just slightly from 2022. Among respondents under the age of 75 who reported taking steps to reduce their risk of developing dementia over the past year, a higher percentage reported in 2024 that they were engaged in challenging their brain to keep it active (80% versus 74% in 2022), eating healthy foods (74% versus 68%), being socially active (57% versus 41%), and monitoring/managing their chronic health conditions (56% versus 39%).

Moreover, research results suggest most individuals are taking action to reduce risk, even if unintentionally. In 2024, while more than half (60%) of respondents under 75 reported that they had not intentionally taken steps to reduce their dementia risk, almost all respondents (97%) had nonetheless engaged in activities linked to a reduced risk over the past year, nearly unchanged from 2022. Further, activities were reported more often than in 2022. The three activities with the greatest increase were: reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption (46% versus 34% in 2022); using safety equipment (e.g., helmets, headphones) to protect hearing and/or the brain (48% versus 35%); and being socially active (62% versus 44%). While men were more likely to say they were reducing or quitting smoking in 2024 (26% versus 19%), women tended to be more socially active (67% versus 57%).

Understandingmotivations for taking steps toward dementia risk reduction

Public opinion research has deepened our understanding of what motivates those living in Canada to take intentional steps to reduce their risk of dementia. Over time, more respondents report motivation coming from knowing someone living with dementia (56% in 2024 versus 50% in 2022), being spurred by credible evidence (34% versus 28%), media sources (22% versus 15%) and advice from people close to them such as friends and family (20%, up from 14%). Women (61%) were more likely to report being motivated by having known someone living with dementia compared to men (51%). While only 9% of respondents were motivated by advertising to reduce their risk, this motivation was more frequent among those in Prince Edward Island (24%), Newfoundland and Labrador (16%),^{Footnote 35} the Yukon (23%),^{Footnote 36} Saskatchewan (17%), and rural areas (15%).

The greater number of respondents taking action to reduce their own risk may be linked to a growing awareness of dementia risk factors. There has been a notable drop in respondents who said not knowing enough about how to reduce risk was a reason for not feeling they would like to or need to do more to reduce their risk (17% in 2024 versus 33% in 2022). The most common reason in 2024 among those who said they do not feel that they need to do more was that they were already doing what they could and had a healthy lifestyle (55%) followed by not believing they were personally at high risk (29%).

New resources are supporting progress on dementia risk reduction

Resources and activities resulting from Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)-funded projects are moving Canada closer to the dementia strategy's aspirations regarding prevention. About a third of the 38 completed projects through PHAC's Dementia Strategic Fund (DSF) had a focus on prevention. Across these 13 projects, 1152 resources^{Footnote 37} have been created which have reached individuals more than 13 million times to date. These resources cover topics such as nutrition and brain health, physical activity and brain health, and cognitive stimulation.

The most common types of resources created by the 13 prevention projects fall within social media engagement and educational events. Multiple projects also created videos/films and websites/webpages.

Several projects developed tailored resources for specific populations, including:

• ethno-cultural language minorities;
• Indigenous populations;
• official language minority communities;
• rural/remote communities; and
• women.

Projects often produced resources in multiple languages, depending on their target audiences. About two-thirds produced resources in both official languages (English and French). Almost one-quarter of projects produced resources in multiple other languages to improve access to dementia information. Examples include:

• culturally appropriate dementia resource guides, workshop videos and educational materials in Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean and Farsi;
• workshops in Japanese;
• a website and infographics in Traditional and Simplified Chinese; and
• more than 25 dementia care education sessions in Mandarin and Cantonese on radio and television.

Figure 7 - Text description

Social media posts	286
Educational events (e.g., webinars, presentations, conferences, and lectures)	179
Videos and films	149
Formal training (e.g., e-learning modules, and workshops)	91
Websites and webpages	90
Traditional media (e.g., features in magazines, newspapers, radio, TV, and press releases)	88
Posters and infographics	68
Factsheets and newsletters	58
Toolkits, manuals, booklets, guidelines, and best practices	40
Podcasts and other audio resources	37
Frequently asked questions documents, tip sheets, and pamphlets	29
Academic publications (e.g., articles, literature reviews, and conference posters)	25
Marketing and awareness campaigns	7
Digital applications	3
Games and quizzes	2
Total number of resources	1,152

New Public Health Agency of Canada project resources on risk reduction have reached millions of individuals

The resources^{Footnote 39} and other outputs (i.e., consultations and engagements) produced by the 13 DSF projects focused on preventing dementia have reached individuals more than 169 million times. Traditional media was the most often used channel (see Figure 8).

Figure 8 - Text description

142,522,000+	Traditional media impressions (e.g., features in magazines, newspapers, radio, TV, and press releases)
23,694,000+	Marketing and awareness campaign impressions
971,000+	Social media impressions
735,000+	Website and webpage views
370,000+	Video and film views
275,000+	Listens to podcast and other audio resources
275,000+	Times academic publications (e.g., articles, literature reviews, conference posters) were accessed
215,000+	Times factsheets and newsletters were accessed
34,000+	Times games and quizzes were played or viewed
32,000+	Times toolkits, manuals, booklets, guidelines and best practices were accessed
28,000+	Digital application downloads or visits
26,000+	Educational event attendees (e.g., webinars, presentations, conferences, and lectures)
10,000+	Times posters and infographics were accessed
10,000+	Times formal training (e.g., e-learning modules and workshops) was accessed
7,000+	Times frequently asked questions documents, tip sheets, and pamphlets were accessed
3,000+	Individuals consulted and engaged

In addition to the DSF projects, more than half (11 of 21) of the resources resulting from PHAC's Enhanced Dementia Surveillance Initiative (EDSI) focused on prevention. Data generated through the EDSI projects can inform policies and programs which aim to reduce the risk of developing dementia or to delay its onset.

Assessing the impact of Dementia Strategic Fund risk reduction projects

Reporting by DSF projects provides an indication of the effectiveness and benefits of their activities. DSF awareness-raising projects have contributed, for example, to increased awareness about dementia risk factors, how the built and social environment can contribute to risk reduction, and the number of those taking steps to reduce dementia risk. DSF guidance projects reported, for example, improved knowledge of guidance on risk reduction and participants' intention to use it. Projects measured their impact in part by asking participants for feedback through surveys and interviews. The charts below show results for some of the measured impacts across multiple projects.

Awareness-raising projects (each bar represents one project)

Guidance projects (each bar represents one project)

Figure 9 - Text description

Awareness-raising projects (each bar represents one project)

% of people reached by the project who gained knowledge/skills on dementia risk factors	100	100	100	97	96	92	68	66	63	60	55	52	50	47
% of people reached by the project who gained knowledge/skills on how built and social environments can support dementia risk reduction	95	88	80	46
% of people reached by the project who are taking steps to reduce dementia risk	100	100	98	93	86	81	75	73	63	57	44	18

Guidance projects (each bar represents one project)

% of people reached by the project who are taking steps to reduce dementia risk	100	99	97	89	75	52	44
% of people reached by the project who reported they intend to use the guidance related to prevention produced by the project	87	71

National public education campaign: reaching millions to raise awareness on risk reduction

Reducing the risk of developing dementia was one theme of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)'s national public education campaign. The primary audience was adults 25 years and older with a focus on populations in Canada at greater risk for developing dementia, including individuals living with or at greater risk of chronic health conditions, as well as Black, South Asian, and Indigenous populations.

During the risk reduction campaign phases, ads were placed on television, digital platforms, and street furniture as well as in transit stations, pharmacies, casual dining establishments, and clinics. Content created included two videos to raise awareness of high blood pressure and physical inactivity as risk factors for dementia, an interactive quiz, and skill-testing questions on ways to reduce risk on the Family Feud and Au Suivant television game shows. Other approaches included ads on paid social media and search engine marketing.

Across all phases of the risk reduction campaign, advertising resulted in 144.5 million impressions and individuals clicked on ads 815,000 times. Results from a survey of approximately 2,000 Canadian adults about the effectiveness of the risk reduction campaign ads found that 86% felt the topic of the ads was important, 80% felt they clearly conveyed how to reduce dementia risk, and 73% of those who recalled the ads took action as a result of seeing them, such as sharing information and making lifestyle changes.

Figure 10 - Text description

National public education campaign: Reducing dementia risk 

• Advertising
  • 144.5M ad impressions
  • Users clicked on ads 815K times
  • 73% who recalled the ads took action (shared info, made lifestyle changes, etc.)
  • 86% felt the topic of the ads was important
  • 80% felt the ads clearly conveyed how to reduce dementia risk
• Risk factor video ads on physical inactivity & high blood pressure
• Social media
• Out-of-home ads
  • Transit stations, pharmacies, street furniture, public transit, casual dining & clinics
• Interactive quiz
• Dementia content on Family Feud and Au Suivant TV shows

Note: K = thousand, M = million

Two spokespersons, one Anglophone and one Francophone, supported the risk reduction campaign through media interviews and other activities that resulted in 13.7 million impressions across Canada. In addition, six social media influencers promoted dementia risk reduction messages on their channels, further extending the reach of the campaign to new audiences. Eleven articles and a radio spot to raise awareness of how to reduce risk were made available to media outlets to use. Across all phases focused on risk reduction, these articles and the radio spot resulted in a potential audience reach of over 9.1 million, based on the media organizations using this material.

A dementia risk reduction poster was shared with a network of Indigenous communities across the country.

Across all campaign activities, messages encouraged people to visit the Government of Canada dementia website for more information. There were more than 840,000 visits to these dementia webpages during the phases focused on dementia risk reduction.

Figure - Text description

Spokesperson tour – risk reduction

• 13.7M impressions
• Interviews resulted in 111 media placements

Influencer campaign

• 182K impressions
• 7000 engagements

Figure - Text description

Articles & radio spot for media use

• 9.1M reach

Risk reduction poster

• Shared with network of 21K subscribers to reach Indigenous communities

Pursuing progress on risk reduction through research and innovation

Over the past five years the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has launched new strategic programs and invested in breakthrough research on the identification of risk and protective factors linked to dementia, the development of resources and tools to support risk reduction, and the implementation of programs to help prevent or delay the onset of dementia.

CIHR has supported research that uses data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) to expand what we know about risk factors linked to dementia, including linkages between cognitive decline and hearing loss. Data from the CLSA informed the finding that almost 50% of dementia cases in Canada are attributable to 12 modifiable risk factors, which contributes to the identification of strategies to reduce dementia risk.^{Footnote 42} This data is also being used to develop a reliable method for identifying both diagnosed and undiagnosed dementia, helping researchers learn more about what increases or reduces the risk of neurocognitive disorders.^{Footnote 43} In 2021, CIHR committed $52 million for five years to support continued CLSA implementation.

Preventing brain diseases that cause dementia has been one of the three key themes of the CIHR-funded Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) since its establishment in 2014. CCNA contributions^{Footnote 44} related to dementia prevention and risk reduction include the successes of the Canadian Therapeutic Platform Trial for Multidomain Interventions to Prevent Dementia (CAN-THUMBS UP).

CIHR-funded CCNA research has led to key advancements in understanding dementia risk and resilience including:

• Establishing for the first time an association between higher white matter lesions in the brain – an indicator of disease of the blood vessels that supply the brain – with increased risk of cognitive decline.^{Footnote 45} This study provides important insights into the mechanisms through which cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative pathologies interact.
• Discovering the potential of lactate, a substance made when the body breaks down sugar during exercise, to improve memory and learning in the brain as it ages, making it a possible target for clinical research.^{Footnote 46}
• Identifying sensory health, including hearing, vision and olfaction, as early non-cognitive markers of dementia. This research contributed to practical guidelines with recommendations on how to recognize non-cognitive markers of risk of dementia, highlighting the importance of hearing screening for risk reduction.^{Footnote 47}

Through the CCNA, CIHR has supported the creation of tools and resources that aim to encourage Canadians to adopt healthy brain habits and lower their risk of developing dementia later in life. These investments have created learning opportunities for children to encourage risk reduction awareness at an early age, as well as a bilingual resource to encourage healthy eating aligned with healthy brain aging that has been demonstrated to improve the quality of participants' diets and their metabolic profile. Moreover, between 2019 and 2024 the CCNA research teams produced more than 400 knowledge products related to neurodegenerative disease prevention, including peer-reviewed journal publications, invited lectures, presentations, reports, and technical briefs.

CIHR has also supported the development of 22 resources promoting brain health and risk reduction through the Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment in Aging (BHCIA) Knowledge Synthesis and Mobilization Grants Program, including YouTube videos, infographic presentations, publications, and policy briefs.

Strategy objective: Advancing therapies and finding a cure

One of the national dementia strategy's objectives is to advance therapies and find a cure. The strategy's pillar of research and innovation encourages efforts toward this objective as well as the objectives focused on prevention and quality of life. Trends in the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)'s dementia-related investments and activities are shared below. There have been multiple notable advances resulting from CIHR's investments since the release of the strategy, including on dementia therapies.

The strategy's aspirations for advancing therapies include increasing annual investment in dementia research so that it exceeds 1% of dementia care costs, increasing availability of new evidence-informed person-centred therapies, including people living with dementia and dementia caregivers as active participants and partners in research, and making efforts in research design to ensure that findings can be understood, adopted and quickly put into practice.

Increasing federal investment in dementia research

Over the last five years, there has been a notable increase in CIHR's annual investment in dementia research from approximately $42 million in 2019–2020 to approximately $58 million in 2023–2024.^{Footnote 48} Further, the number of unique nominated principal investigators^{Footnote 49} in dementia research has increased (from 262 to 357), as has the number of grants and awards in dementia research across all of CIHR's programs (from 306 to 410).

Figure 11 - Text description

Year	2019-2020	2020-2021	2021-2022	2022-2023	2023-2024
Approximate spending (million $)	42	49	54	52	58

Figure 12 - Text description

Year	2019-2020	2020-2021	2021-2022	2022-2023	2023-2024
Grants/Awards (Number)	306	344	346	331	410

Pursuing progress on advancing therapies through research and innovation

Although there are no treatments that can reverse cognitive decline, recent research has made notable strides in advancing dementia therapies. Over the past five years, CIHR has invested in research—from fundamental studies to better understand the aging brain and disease mechanisms to the development of innovative therapeutic approaches and treatments—paving the way toward the eventual discovery of a cure.

Examples of research breakthroughs achieved with support from CIHR include:

• A discovery of naturally occurring molecules in the retina that protect the nervous system from inflammation.^{Footnote 51} This U.S. patented discovery offers promising opportunities for development of new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's.
• Uncovering the way toxic proteins linked to Alzheimer's disrupt brain molecules that are essential for communication between brain cells.^{Footnote 52} This discovery opens the door to developing new treatments for dementia by protecting these molecules and preventing damage to brain function.
• Unlocking the potential of microglia, the brain's immune cells that become less efficient with age, as a new therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease.^{Footnote 53} By investigating ways to improve microglial functions, researchers hope to develop innovative therapies to prevent or slow the progression of the disease.

A key CIHR vehicle for supporting research on advancing therapies has been the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA), which includes treatment as one of its overarching themes.

Novel CCNA research to advance therapies for neurodegenerative diseases includes:

• Development of an antibody that shows potential as a treatment for early Alzheimer's disease. It is now entering a phase of human testing.^{Footnote 54}
• Phase 2 and phase 3 randomized clinical trials for a potential treatment for apathy^{Footnote 55} and agitation^{Footnote 56} in dementia. This research allowed researchers to secure additional funding for the development of treatments.
• A randomized control trial^{Footnote 57} to test the efficacy and long-term impact of a non-pharmaceutical intervention that combines cognitive training and leisure activities for older adults with the risk of dementia. The results of the ENGAGE trial included significant improvements in the memory, attention, and daily functioning of older adults experiencing memory issues.

Between 2019 and 2024, CCNA research teams produced more than 800 knowledge products related to advancing therapies for dementia, including publications in peer-reviewed journals, lectures, panels, presentations, guidelines for policy, toolkits, as well as traditional and social media publications.

CIHR has supported notable advancements toward finding a cure for dementia by strengthening the research ecosystem. Over the past five years, the CCNA engaged in more than 220 new domestic and international collaborations. For each dollar invested in the CCNA, researchers have doubled or nearly tripled their funding through other funding sources. For example, in 2023–2024 the CCNA secured $20.5 million in additional partner funding to the initial $8.4 million from CIHR and partners.

Similarly, since its launch in 2023, CIHR's Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment in Aging (BHCIA) Research Initiative has brought the initial commitment of $20 million from the 2022 federal Budget to over $75 million, by combining the Government of Canada investment with partner commitments. With this combined funding, the BHCIA Research Initiative supports 16 strategic funding opportunities aligned with the objectives of the national dementia strategy.

Figure 13 - Text description

Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment in Aging (BHCIA) research initiative pillars

• Strategic Fund Opportunities
  • Over $35M committed for 14 Strategic Funding Opportunities, including:
    • one National Knowledge Mobilization Hub (BRAID Hub)
    • one Health Research Training Platform in brain health care support I aging
• Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA)
  • One CCNA Operations Centre supporting 16 Research Teams with over $40M committed for 2024-2029
• Dementia Research and Innovation Funders Alliance
  • 30 organizations coming together as one Dementia Research and Innovation Funders Alliance

Moving forward, CIHR will continue to strengthen cooperation between key research funders and interested parties, including through the Dementia Research and Innovation Funders Alliance, launched by CIHR's Institute of Aging in 2023. The Alliance brings together more than 30 organizations from the dementia research and innovation ecosystem in Canada and includes people with lived experience. Alliance members are working together to identify gaps and opportunities, and implement strategies for effective knowledge mobilization.

Strategy objective: Improving the quality of life of people living with dementia and dementi a caregivers

There are many factors that influence the quality of life of people living with dementia and caregivers. Quality of life relies on the contributions of a wide range of Canadian organizations, including all levels of government. It is affected, for example, by the degree of stigma in Canadian society, the extent to which communities are designed to be dementia-inclusive, and access to and quality of key supports, including health care and supportive resources for family and friend caregivers.

This report presents data trends that provide an indication of a few aspects of the quality of life of people living with dementia and caregivers, as well as highlights of results from public opinion research focusing on stigma, dementia-inclusive communities, caregiver capacity and supports.

Aspirations for the dementia strategy's quality of life objective include that all people living in Canada understand dementia and stigma no longer exists, and that a timely diagnosis provided in a compassionate manner is available to all people living in Canada, along with needed resources and supports. The aspirations also include integrated, person-centred quality care across all settings, that individuals feel welcomed and well cared for when hospitalization or admission to long-term care is necessary, and care provider access to the resources and training needed to deliver quality care is available. Finally, the strategy calls for access for all unpaid caregivers to the resources and supports required both to protect their own wellbeing and to care for someone living with dementia.

Some aspects of quality of life appear to be improving

The tracking of data points for quality of life shows positive trends this year. Fewer people living with dementia receiving publicly funded home care were reported as exhibiting depression, daily pain and withdrawal from activities of interest and/or reduced social interaction. This data comes from assessments completed by publicly funded home care providers in Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Table 4: Aspects of quality of life for people living with dementia receiving publicly funded home care^{Footnote 60}

Data point	Percentage (%) in 2019–2020	Percentage (%) in 2020–2021	Percentage (%) in 2021–2022	Percentage (%) in 2022–2023	Percentage (%) in 2023–2024	Trend between 2019–2020 and 2023–2024Footnote 61
Exhibiting withdrawal from activities of interest and/or reduced social interaction	19.1	21.1	19.1	17.7	17.4	Better
Displaying a potential or actual problem with depression, based on a depression rating scale	24.8	24.9	24.8	23.9	22.9	Better
Experiencing daily pain (severe and not severe)	34.6	33.8	34.5	34.0	33.7	Better

There has also been a slight decrease in the percentage of unpaid family/friend caregivers for people living with dementia who are experiencing distress from 37.1% in 2019–2020 to 35.3% in 2023–2024.^{Footnote 62} However, the percentage of caregivers for people living with dementia who are experiencing distress has remained about double that of caregivers for people without dementia who are experiencing distress over the last several years (37.1 versus 18.9 in 2019–‍2020; 35.3 versus 19.2 in 2023–2024).

Table 5: Caregivers for people living with dementia experiencing distress^{Footnote 63}

Data point	Percentage (%) in 2019–2020	Percentage (%) in 2020–2021	Percentage (%) in 2021–2022	Percentage (%) in 2022–2023	Percentage (%) in 2023–2024	Trend between 2019–2020 and 2023–2024Footnote 64
Caregivers who provided care for people living with dementia experienced distress	37.1	36.6	38.1	35.6	35.3	Better

Public opinion research results on quality of life suggest priorities for future efforts

Improving the quality of life of people living with dementia and dementia caregivers relies on efforts to eliminate stigma, to enable dementia-inclusive communities that welcome and value them, to provide sufficient care and supports within the community and through the health care system, and to support the capacity of caregivers while protecting their wellbeing. Recent public opinion research conducted for the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has provided more insight into these topics.^{Footnote 65}

Stigma related to dementia remains a challenge

Public opinion research has included questions to better understand public attitudes toward dementia and how common dementia-related stigma is.^{Footnote 66} For example, surveys have explored comfort levels when interacting with people living with dementia and sharing news of a dementia diagnosis, along with perceptions about people living with dementia. Questions were asked to understand views about living with dementia, including about the quality of life of people living with dementia and their capacity to continue activities such as working after the onset of symptoms.

Comparing public opinion research results between 2020 and 2023 suggests little change generally in public attitudes regarding dementia-related stigma; however, for a few questions there appears to be a negative shift (see Table 6). As well, fewer respondents reported feeling comfortable with the idea of disclosing a dementia diagnosis to family (57% in 2023 versus 64% in 2020); friends (40% versus 49%); neighbours and others in the community (24% versus 31%); and employers (20% versus 31%).^{Footnote 67} Discomfort with discussing a diagnosis may be related to stigma. Notably, the proportion of respondents who believe that people generally hold negative assumptions about those with dementia rose from 68% in 2020 to 83% in 2023. Although the factors contributing to a shift in attitudes around dementia-related stigma are unclear, studies suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic may have intensified the stigmatization of groups perceived as high risk for COVID-19, including older adults and those living with dementia.^{Footnote 68}

Table 6: Comparison over time of public attitudes related to dementia-related stigma

Survey question	2020	2023
Comfort levels (% moderately comfortable or higher, 3-5 on 5-point scale):Footnote 69 How comfortable would you …?
feel interacting with someone living with dementia?	50%	43%
be with asking a health care provider for information about dementia symptoms which could lead to obtaining an assessment and diagnosis?	72%	68%
Perceptions of people living with dementia:Footnote 70 To what extent do you agree or disagree with…?
the view that people have negative assumptions about the abilities of people living with dementia?	68% Agree	83% Agree
the view that people living with dementia generally face a lower quality of life than people without dementia?	10% Disagree	11% Disagree
the view that people living with dementia are sometimes able to continue working for years after the onset of symptoms?	47% Agree	41% Agree

Dementia-inclusive communities are a priority with more work needed to expand them

Many factors affect how inclusive a community is for people living with dementia. Public opinion research has explored familiarity in Canada with the concept of dementia-inclusive communities and views on how inclusive Canadian communities are. Many respondents believe it is a priority for their communities to be dementia-inclusive. More than half (54%) of respondents in 2023 ranked it as a high priority, while almost one-third (30%) ranked it as a moderate priority.^{Footnote 71}

However, respondents have mixed views of how inclusive their communities are for people living with dementia. Dementia caregivers were more likely to provide a rating than those who were not caregivers (see Figure 14).

Figure 14 - Text description

	Don't know	Poor (1-2)	Moderate (3)	Good (4-5)
Unpaid caregivers	35%	30%	25%	11%
Other respondents	19%	38%	31%	12%

Views on community supports for people living with dementia have become less positive

Public opinion research questions have asked about the quality of community supports for those living with dementia. In 2020, respondents were more positive about efforts to improve community safety and overall support for those living with dementia than they were in 2024, when asked about the extent to which their community is dementia-inclusive (see Figure 15).

Figure 15 - Text description

	Don't know	Poor (1-2)	Moderate (3)	Good (4-5)
Efforts to make the community safer for those living with dementia (2020)	29%	33%	27%	11%
Overall support from the community provided to people living with dementia (2020)	24%	23%	35%	18%
Your community in terms of being dementia-inclusive (2024)	27%	27%	30%	16%

Perceptions on the quality of other forms of supports

Respondents who reported knowing someone living with dementia in the 2024 survey were asked about access to in-home supports, day programs outside the home, advance care planning and end-of-life care (see Figure 16). Fewer than half gave a moderate to good rating of three or higher on a five-point scale with often one-quarter to one-third not able to provide a rating.

Figure 16 - Text description

		Don't know	Poor (1-2)	Moderate (3)	Good (4-5)
Access to day programs outside the home for people living with dementia	All respondents	33%	32%	22%	13%
	Unpaid caregivers	24%	38%	22%	16%
	Other respondents	41%	27%	23%	10%
Access to in-home supports to assist people living with dementia and caregivers	All respondents	27%	33%	24%	16%
	Unpaid caregivers	18%	39%	25%	18%
	Other respondents	34%	28%	23%	15%
Access to advance care planning and end-of-life care for people living with dementia	All respondents	31%	27%	23%	18%
	Unpaid caregivers	25%	31%	24%	20%
	Other respondents	37%	24%	22%	17%

Views are mixed on access to and quality of health care for people living with dementia

Access to health care and the quality of the care for people living with dementia are important factors for quality of life. Questions about perceptions and experiences related to these topics suggest a more negative view among respondents in 2024 compared with 2020 (see Figure 17).^{Footnote 76} Unpaid caregivers are more likely than other respondents to rate their community as poor or moderate to good in terms of the quality of health care for people living with dementia and less likely to report they don't know how to rate it.

Access to health care (2020)

Quality of health care provided (2020)

Access to quality health care for people living with dementia (2024)

Figure 17 - Text description

		Don't know	Poor (1-2)	Moderate (3)	Good (4-5)
Access to health care (2020)	All respondents	18%	12%	28%	42%
Quality of health care provided (2020)	All respondents	20%	13%	31%	35%
Access to quality health care for people living with dementia (2024)	All respondents	25%	31%	27%	17%
	Unpaid caregivers	14%	37%	30%	19%
	Other respondents	32%	27%	24%	16%

Assessing unpaid caregiver capacity to provide the care needed

Unpaid caregivers provide a wide range of supports to people living with dementia – from help with chores and daily activities to personal care and emotional support. While their role is essential to the daily lives and wellbeing of those they care for, it can also be demanding and challenging. Through public opinion research, caregivers were asked to reflect on their ability to meet the care needs of someone living with dementia, as well as sharing information on the reasons why they did or did not feel able to do so.

Self-assessed ability of dementia caregivers to meet care needs

Unpaid caregivers were asked whether they felt they were able to provide the care needed for someone living with dementia in a satisfactory and timely manner. Nearly half of caregivers (47%) in 2024 agreed they were able to provide the necessary care, a decrease from 57% in 2020 (see Figure 19).

Figure 19 - Text description

	2020	2024
Agree	57%	47%
Neither	23%	23%
Disagree	16%	25%
Don't know/Prefer not to answer	4%	4%

Reasons for being able to provide the care needed

In 2024, the most common reasons reported for feeling able to provide the care needed were:^{Footnote 82}

• having enough time / a flexible schedule (71%);
• living close enough (63%);
• not being concerned about finances (44%); and
• having access to information (43%).

Reasons for not being able to provide the care needed

Caregivers who felt unable to provide the care needed most commonly said it was due to having other responsibilities, not having enough time, a lack of support, and concerns about their own health (see Figure 20). In 2024, fewer respondents noted a lack of time, support or information as reasons they felt unable to provide the care needed, while more pointed to concerns about their own health and other responsibilities compared with 2020.

Figure 20 - Text description

	2020	2024
I had other responsibilities	44%	47%
I didn't have enough time	48%	42%
I didn't have enough support	38%	30%
I was concerned about my own health	17%	28%
I didn't have enough information	30%	25%
I'm generally not good in those kinds of situations	25%	22%
I was concerned about finances	24%	20%
I didn't have the space needed	14%	13%

In 2024, men were more likely than women to say they had other responsibilities (54% versus 43%), were "not good in those situations" (29% versus 18%), and did not have the space needed (20% versus 9%). Meanwhile, women were more likely to say they were concerned about their own health (33% versus 20%) and finances (24% versus 14%). Indigenous respondents were more likely than others to say they did not have the space needed (24% versus 13% of others).

Project resources are supporting improved quality of life

As part of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)'s efforts to support implementation of the national dementia strategy, three funding programs have contributed to its objective to improve quality of life: the Dementia Community Investment (DCI), the Dementia Strategic Fund (DSF) and the Enhanced Dementia Surveillance Initiative (EDSI).

Across the 55 DCI and DSF projects focused on improving the quality of life of people living with dementia and dementia caregivers, 4,297 resources^{Footnote 84} were created that reached individuals at least 67 million times. The most common types of resources created were related to social media, educational events (webinars and presentations), fact sheets and newsletters, as well as materials to support training on topics such as stigma, dementia-inclusive communities and person-centred care (see Figure 21).

Figure 21 - Text description

Social media posts	1,407
Educational events (e.g., webinars, presentations, conferences, and lectures)	777
Factsheets and newsletters	453
Formal training (e.g., e-learning modules, and workshops)	382
Videos and films	307
Toolkits, manuals, booklets, guidelines, and best practices	212
Posters and infographics	207
Traditional media (e.g., features in magazines, newspapers, radio, TV, and press releases)	131
Frequently asked questions documents, tip sheets, and pamphlets	110
Academic publications (e.g., articles, literature reviews, and conference posters)	104
Websites and webpages	95
Podcasts and other audio resources	68
Marketing and awareness campaigns	37
Games and quizzes	5
Digital applications	2
Total number of resources	4,297

Several projects tailored resources for specific populations, including:

• 2SLGBTQI+ individuals;
• ethno-cultural minorities;
• Indigenous populations;
• individuals with intellectual disabilities; and
• rural/remote communities.

The DCI and DSF together supported 55 awareness-raising, guidance and community projects with a focus on improving the quality of life of people living with dementia and dementia caregivers. Just over half of these projects (34/55) produced resources in both official languages (English and French). Several projects (16/55) produced resources in other languages to improve access to dementia information such as:

• digital resources and culturally specific resources in Simplified Chinese (15), Traditional Chinese (15), Italian (15), Punjabi (16), Hindi (16) and Urdu (16);
• a "Dementia in the Chinese Community" video series to capture the perspective of lived experience within the community featured Mandarin and Cantonese speakers;
• culturally- and language-specific materials to educate individuals about dementia information and raise awareness:
  • a "Dementia Guide" was translated to Tamil;
  • an "Experiences of Dementia in South Asian Communities in Canada" video was developed in Punjabi;
  • an "Understanding Dementia" video was developed in Hindi and Punjabi; and
• tip sheets for individuals working in intergenerational programming (e.g., benefits of intergenerational programming for seniors with dementia, creating dementia-inclusive spaces for intergenerational programs, how to talk to children about dementia) were developed in Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Tamil, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese and Tagalog.

Project resources on quality of life have reached millions of people

Projects funded through the DCI and DSF supporting the national strategy objective on quality of life reported reaching more than 43 million individuals directly. Moreover, the resources produced by these projects reached individuals more than 67 million times.

Among resource categories, marketing and awareness campaigns had the highest reach at more than 37 million, followed by traditional media, social media, and videos or film (Figure 22). Among the many types of resources created, new websites now provide easier access to dementia-related information, such as culturally appropriate and culturally safe resources, resources for clinicians to deliver person-centred care in ethnic and cultural minority communities and to Indigenous populations, and guidance tailored for supporting individuals living with dementia who also have intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Figure 22 - Text description

37,149,000+	Marketing and awareness campaign impressions
18,877,000+	Traditional media impressions (e.g., features in magazines, newspapers, radio, TV, and press releases)
9,218,000+	Social media impressions
832,000+	Video and film views
707,000+	Website and webpage views
421,000+	Times factsheets and newsletters were accessed
116,000+	Educational event attendees (e.g., webinars, presentations, conferences, and lectures)
108,000+	Times posters and infographics were accessed
56,000+	Times toolkits, manuals, booklets, guidelines, and best practices were accessed
50,000+	Times frequently asked questions documents, tip sheets, and pamphlets were accessed
22,000+	Listens to podcast and other audio resources
18,000+	Times academic publications (e.g., articles, literature reviews, conference posters) were accessed
17,000+	Times formal training (e.g., e-learning modules and workshops) was accessed
4,000+	Individuals consulted and engaged

Gauging the impact of projects focused on quality of life

Reporting by projects focused on quality of life shows results that include increased awareness among Canadians about: the aspects of built and social environment that contribute to making them dementia-inclusive; the ability of people living with dementia to remain active in and contribute to their community; and the ability of people living with dementia to experience a good quality of life. Other reported results include, for example, increased comfort interacting with someone living with dementia and increased comfort sharing a dementia diagnosis with others such as family, friends, employers, and neighbours. These results contrast in some cases with general population trends from public opinion research, indicating that project resources have been effective in advancing the strategy's objective related to quality of life.

DSF projects focusing on improving access to high-quality dementia guidance reported that participants agreed that project outputs: improve knowledge of dementia guidance on person-centred care; provide better access to resources needed to deliver quality care; and improve the feeling of preparedness to provide care for people living with dementia and to take steps to reduce stigma. Further, participants agreed the resources would improve dementia care, would be used by others, are feasible to adopt, and are something they would recommend to others. Guidance projects also reported that participants felt better equipped to navigate health care and other support systems.

Projects measured their impact in part through participant surveys and interviews. Figure 23 presents some of the most commonly reported indicators related to improving quality of life for people living with dementia and dementia caregivers.

DCI projects (each bar represents one project)

DSF – awareness-raising projects (each bar represents one project)

DSF – guidance projects (each bar represents one project)

Figure 23 - Text description

DCI projects (each bar represents one project)

% of participants reporting a change in knowledge and/or skills	100	97	94	92	91	89	89	86	85	85	81	79	78	75	71	69	68	62	60	39
% of participants reporting a change in behaviours	100	99	92	83	74	74	71	66	63	56	54
% of participants reporting a change in protective factors	100	100	100	100	91	85	77	74	70	48	29	5
% of participants reporting a change in wellbeing	100	100	100	100	84	75	70	69	59	53	50	39
% of family/friend caregivers reporting improved wellbeing of the people living with dementia they care for	100	59

DSF – awareness-raising projects (each bar represents one project)

% of people reached by the project who gained knowledge and/or skills on the individual aspects of built and social environments that contribute to making them dementia-inclusive	94	93	93	90	90	80	80	75
% of people reached who gained knowledge and/or skills on the ability of people living with dementia to remain active in and contribute to their community	100	98	95	93	89	89	80	75	68	46	42	23
% of people reached by the project who gained knowledge and/or skills on the ability of people living with dementia to experience a good quality of life	100	100	97	95	90	85	80	73	73	72	28
% of people reached by the project who subsequently feel comfortable interacting with someone living with dementia	100	100	90	85	81	80	77	69	65	53	47	35

DSF – guidance projects (each bar represents one project)

% of people reached by the project who feel better prepared to provide care for people living with dementia	100	91	76	75	66	64	56
% of people reached by the project who have improved knowledge of dementia guidance on person-centred support, communication and care for people living with dementia and caregivers	100	91	75	55	44
% of people reached by the project who reported they intend to use the guidance related to quality of life produced by the project	91	91	87	78	77
% of people reached by the project who reported the project as having a meaningful contribution to improving access and use of dementia guidance in Canada	100	90	89	79

National public education campaign on dementia: Reducing stigma and enabling communities to be more dementia-inclusive

Reducing stigma and enabling communities to be more dementia-inclusive was one focus of the national public education campaign undertaken by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). The primary audience was adults 40 years and older with an emphasis on people living with or prone to chronic health conditions, women, service providers and ethnic minority groups.

This advertising campaign reached millions of people living in Canada through television, digital platforms and newspapers. Content developed included a video on how to interact in a supportive way with someone living with dementia, two testimonial videos from people living with dementia, and an interactive quiz. Paid social media and search engine marketing were also used to share information to help reduce dementia-related stigma. Advertising resulted in 83.2 million impressions and people clicked on ads 297,300 times across all campaign phases focused on this theme. Results from a survey of approximately 2,000 Canadians about the effectiveness of the stigma campaign ads found that 76% felt the ads helped reduce negative perceptions, 68% felt they clearly conveyed how to support people living with dementia, and 63% felt they provided new information.

Figure 24 - Text description

National public education campaign: Reducing stigma and enabling communities to be more dementia-inclusive

• Digital advertising
  • 83.2M ad impressions
  • Users clicked on ads 297.3K times
    • 76% felt the ads helped reduce negative perceptions
    • 68% felt the ads clearly conveyed how to support people living with dementia
    • 63% felt the ads provided new information
• Video: How to interact with someone living with dementia
• Interactive quiz
• Social media
• Testimonial videos featuring people living with dementia

K = thousand, M = million

Two spokespersons, one Anglophone and one Francophone, supported the stigma theme of the campaign through media interviews and other activities. Their efforts resulted in 177 media placements, with a combined reach of over 21.5 million impressions across Canada.

Five articles, an informational video on how to help reduce stigma, and the two testimonial videos noted above were made available to media outlets to use. Across all campaign phases focused on stigma, these articles and videos resulted in a potential audience reach of over 31.4 million, based on the media organizations using this material.

Throughout the campaign phases focused on stigma reduction, people were encouraged to visit the Government of Canada dementia website (Canada.ca/dementia) for more information, resulting in over 277,000 visits.

Figure - Text description

Articles and videos for media use

• 31.4M reach
• Informational video: Help reduce the stigma behind dementia

Enhancing dementia surveillance to support quality of life

Ten of the resources produced by projects funded by the Enhanced Dementia Surveillance Initiative (EDSI) contributed to supporting the quality of life of people living with dementia. These resources include findings that better describe the characteristics and outcomes of those living with dementia, which can better inform approaches to the care provided by dementia caregivers and health professionals. As a result, care can be more effectively tailored, leading to improved quality of life for those living with dementia.

Pursuing quality of life through research and innovation

The advancement of knowledge to improve the quality of life and health of older Canadians is a fundamental goal of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Aging.

CIHR invests in research to help people living with dementia stay actively involved in their communities. Highlights include:

• Preventing social isolation: CIHR has supported research that identifies ways to improve social connectedness,^{Footnote 88} as well as clinical trials of interventions, to decrease social isolation and loneliness of older adults living with dementia.^{Footnote 89}
• Aging in place: CIHR, in collaboration with Health Canada's End of Life Care Unit and Healthcare Excellence Canada, invested in bringing together diverse stakeholders – including international, federal, provincial, and territorial partners, researchers, implementation experts, and people with lived experience – to discuss ways to optimize federal support for community-led care. This process also helped identify best practices for using a compassionate communities model for enabling aging in place.

Developing, evaluating and implementing strategies to improve the health and wellbeing of dementia caregivers and care providers is one of the main research areas of the Brain Health and Cognitive Impairment in Aging (BHCIA) Research Initiative. Over the last five years, CIHR invested in research that expanded our understanding of caregiver experiences and supported interventions to improve the quality of life of caregivers and care providers of people living with dementia. Research in this area is supported through most BHCIA funding opportunities, many of those in partnership with Azrieli Foundation and its Centre for Caregiving Excellence.

Since 2020, efforts under the umbrella of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) have made notable strides toward improving access to quality dementia care, supporting improvements in care delivery, and promoting culturally inclusive approaches to dementia research. Some examples include:

• Access to quality care: improving the delivery of dementia care through one-day, team-based memory clinics, in collaboration with rural primary health care teams in 10 communities in Saskatchewan. Patients and families reported valuing the comfort and convenience of local care, "being heard," being in the same room and on the "same page" with the care team and receiving help for the future.
• Culturally safe approaches to research: the CCNA established a strong foundation for an independent national Indigenous dementia research collaboration, the Community-Based Indigenous Cognitive Health Network, and fosters respectful partnerships between researchers and Indigenous communities.

Between 2019 and 2024, CCNA research teams released more than 1,100 knowledge products related to improving the quality of life of people living with dementia, including peer-reviewed publications, public events, panels, webinars, traditional and social media publications, videos, and podcasts.

Moving forward, CIHR will continue to invest in research to address the needs of dementia caregivers, as well as the stigma and social isolation of people living with dementia. CIHR will also support the evaluation and implementation of promising programs, services and models of care to improve the quality of life of those impacted by cognitive impairment and dementia, including through BHCIA Implementation Science Team grants, an investment of $7.5 million starting in 2024.

Supporting people living with dementia and dementia caregivers during climate-related emergencies

To better understand the experiences and needs of people living with dementia and dementia caregivers during climate-related emergency situations, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) undertook public opinion research in 2024 with individuals with lived experience.^{Footnote 90} Participants included paid care providers, first responders, and government/logistical planners, most of whom had provided direct or indirect support to people living with dementia during, for example, forest fires/wildfires, severe air pollution (including wildfire smoke), floods, heavy rain and snow, ice storms, hurricanes and tornados, and/or extreme heat and cold. Other participants were people living with dementia and unpaid caregivers who recently experienced such an emergency, including, in some cases, evacuation.

This research examined the impacts of these emergencies, the challenges faced, and gathered participants' suggestions for tools and resources that could help in future situations.

"The past few years have been wild. We see polar vortexes, with extreme cold of -40°C or colder for about 10 days, and that is now happening regularly. And then we have high smoke index days in the summer, and the heat is exacerbated with that. We have days of +40°C or +35°C."

– First responder

Challenges faced during climate-related emergencies

Participants highlighted key challenges they observed being faced by people living with dementia and caregivers during climate-related emergencies (see Table 7).

Table 7: Examples of challenges observed

People living with dementia	Dementia caregivers
Sudden worsening of symptoms (temporary or permanent)	Increased responsibilities and stress, raising risk of "burn out"
Difficulty recognizing an emergency or its severity	Lack of guidance on preparing for and providing care in emergencies
Disruptions to routine	Limited ability to help if living in a different community
Communication challenges that limit ability to understand and follow guidance	Financial strain (lost income, travel costs, supplies)
Reluctance to leave familiar surroundings	Uncertainty about available resources or supports, including financial supports

"There is a significant increase in stress and flareups of other health conditions. Complications of other health conditions. [After the emergency] there is generally a worse health condition overall."

– Care provider

"How do you plan for what you don't know what's coming? We would have these conversations around what they like [to bring] if [a climate-related emergency] happened but the problem is they forget. In the moment they don't recognize the issue, the danger."

– Caregiver

Participants also identified the needs of people living with dementia and suggested strategies to address them during climate-related emergencies (see Table 8).

Table 8: Examples of observed needs and suggested strategies

Needs	Strategies to address needs
Understanding	Slow down interactions and provide reassurance
Consistency and normalcy	Keep the person living with dementia in their home whenever possible and ensure consistency of care providers for those living in long-term care Include familiar items or activities in an emergency bag (in the event of evacuation)
Support and individual care (particularly during evacuation)	Involve family for support and have a list of important contacts available Have access to information on the current health condition of the person living with dementia and establish and understand their health condition at baseline
Clear, simple communication	Use visual cues, share only information directly relevant to the person living with dementia

"They [people living with dementia] need someone to take the time with them. The more rushed they are, the more stressed and anxious they will become. We offer them as much patience as possible."

– Care provider

Evacuation experiences

Emergency evacuations during climate events were especially challenging, as people living with dementia often lacked clarity about what to take with them, the urgency of the situation or why evacuation was necessary. Disruptions to routine, separation from familiar surroundings, limited mobility, loud environments, and the risk of getting lost in crowds further complicated coping and functioning. Participants noted that evacuations can be traumatic, particularly for those with past experiences of displacement, such as Indigenous Peoples who had been taken to residential schools.

"People are going to be housed in large areas [in case of evacuation] and it will be confusing and chaotic and extremely stress-inducing. I would like to see small locations and someone in those locations dedicated on checking on people with needs. Someone reassuring and calm. If I can't be there to be the reassuring factor, I would like to see someone tasked to deal with those needs."

– Caregiver

"… when [sic] you are taking them from one place to the other that place also needs to be safe, safety measures put in place. If [people living with dementia] are in a place they do not know, they are looking to go home. You will need to increase supervision."

– Government/Logistical planner

Available tools and resources for climate-related emergency support

Dementia caregivers and people living with dementia reported having few tools to prepare for and respond to climate-related emergencies, and expressed a need for more information and support. While care providers working in supportive housing or long-term care settings noted general emergency plans, none mentioned plans specific to climate-related emergencies.

Some participants identified useful existing resources, including:

• A phone line for accessing health care professionals (e.g., 8-1-1 HealthLine)
• Videos for the public on dealing with emergencies in general
• Tracking devices
• Telephone access to psychiatric nurses
• Health information sheets with care directions posted in the home
• Mobile community paramedic services
• A vulnerable person registry

Suggestions for tools and resources

Participants recommended that information for people living with dementia and dementia caregivers be available in multiple formats—such as short, simple videos and translations into different languages—to explain climate-related emergencies. They also suggested a centralized portal to share information and community resources.

"When I am not as anxious, I would readily absorb the information regarding future planning, rather than during an emergency. I would like to have a list of resources, pointers, or a note [that says]: if this, do that; if this, do that. So, I have a clear path. In a stressful situation, I may not be able to determine the correct course of action."

– Person living with dementia

Care providers noted a lack of standardized training specific to dementia and climate emergencies; existing workshops typically focus on general crisis response.

"Nothing in any course is specific to climate emergencies – it deals with high-stress situations. There are no resources specific to climate emergency. We need to bring awareness to the challenge and add to existing tools."

– First responder

Participants further suggested that long-term care homes develop climate-specific preparedness and response plans, and create coordinated emergency response teams. Municipalities were encouraged to design evacuation protocols tailored to people living with dementia, including having designated evacuation sites with appropriate security, supportive resources, and specialized transportation.

Conclusion

Since 2019, the national dementia strategy has been supported by federal investments of more than $400 million in research and innovation, community-based projects, awareness raising, surveillance, data-gathering and guidance. While the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) leads the federal contribution to the strategy's implementation, it is a collective effort that relies on other federal partners, other levels of government, and stakeholders from across the country who directly support progress on its objectives through a wide variety of activities. We thank all those working to support Canada's dementia strategy and its vision of a Canada in which all people living with dementia and dementia caregivers are valued and supported, quality of life is optimized, and dementia is prevented, well understood and effectively treated.

We also thank those who contributed to this year's report, including participants in PHAC's public opinion research studies. If you would like to receive communications about the national dementia strategy and funding opportunities or provide information about relevant dementia-related activities, please contact the PHAC Dementia Policy Secretariat.

Appendices

Appendix A: Trends in risk and protective factors across Canada

Dementia risk and protective factors

Table 1a: Percentage of population with modifiable dementia risk factors over time

Dementia risk/protective factor	Percentage (%) of Canadian population with factor (Year 1)	Percentage (%) of Canadian population with factor (Year 2)	TrendFootnote 91,Footnote 92	Source
% of population (aged 20+) that reports having less than a high school educationFootnote 93,Footnote 94	10.5 (2018)	7.9 (2023)	BetterFootnote 95	Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), 2018; 2023Footnote 96
% of population (aged 18+) that reports being current smokers (daily or occasional)	16.7 (2018)	11.4 (2023)	BetterFootnote 97	CCHS, 2018; 2023Footnote 98
% of population (aged 18+) that reports heavy drinkingFootnote 99	20.3 (2018)	19.4 (2023)	No significant changeFootnote 100	CCHS, 2018; 2023Footnote 101
% of population (aged 12+) who reported sustaining a head injury or concussion	1.6 (2020)	1.7 (2022)	No significant change	CCHS Traumatic Brain Injury Rapid Response (TBIRR), 2020; CCHS, 2022
% of population (aged 18–79) with high LDL cholesterol	41.2 (2014–2015)	33.3 (2018–2019)	No significant change	Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS), 2014–2015; 2018–2019
% of population (aged 20+) with diagnosed diabetesFootnote 102	10.3 (2017–2018)	10.7 (2022–2023)Footnote 103	N/AFootnote 104	Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System (CCDSS), 2017–2018; 2022–2023
% of population (aged 20+) with diagnosed hypertension (high blood pressure)Footnote 105	23.5 (2017–2018)	22.3 (2022–2023)	N/AFootnote 106	CCDSS, 2017–2018; 2022–2023
% of population (aged 15+) classified as meeting criteria for major depressive episode in the 12 months prior to interviewFootnote 107	4.7 (2012)	7.6 (2022)	Worse	CCHS Mental Health (MH), 2012; Mental Health and Access to Care Survey (MHACS), 2022Footnote 108
% of adults (aged 18+) that are living with obesity (self-reported, adjusted BMI)Footnote 109	26.8 (2018)	30.2 (2023)	WorseFootnote 110	CCHS, 2018; 2023Footnote 111
% of population (aged 15) in Canada who performed below Level 2 in reading literacyFootnote 112	13.8 (2018)	18.1 (2022)	Worse	Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), 2018; 2022Footnote 113
% of population (aged 65+) with an uncorrected vision problemFootnote 114	3.0 (2019)	6.3 (2023)	Worse	CCHS, 2019; 2023

Table 1b: National average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations in Canada over time

Dementia risk factor	Micrograms per cubic metre (Year 1)	Micrograms per cubic metre (Year 2)	Trend	Source
National population-weighted average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration (air pollution) (micrograms per cubic metre)Footnote 115	8.3 (2001)	6.8 (2021)	BetterFootnote 116	Fuller-Thomson et al. (2024)

Table 1c: Percentage of population with modifiable dementia protective factors over time

Dementia protective factor	Percentage (%) of Canadian population with factor (Year 1)	Percentage (%) of Canadian population with factor (Year 2)	TrendFootnote 117,Footnote 118	Source
% of population (aged 18+) who report accumulating at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each week, in bouts of 10 minutes or moreFootnote 119,Footnote 120	58.5 (2016)	53.9 (2021)	Worse	CCHS, 2016; 2021
% of population (aged 18+) that reports a "very strong" or "somewhat strong" sense of belonging to their local community (social isolation is a dementia risk factor)Footnote 121	67.1 (2018)	60.6 (2023)	WorseFootnote 122	CCHS, 2018; 2023Footnote 123

Dementia risk and protective factors across Canada

Table 2a: Dementia risk factors across Canada^{Footnote 124}

Dementia risk factor	SourceFootnote 125,Footnote 126,Footnote 127	National	AB	BC	MB	NB	NL	NT	NS	NU	ON	PE	QC	SK	YT
% of population (aged 20+) that reports having less than a high school educationFootnote 128	CCHS (2023)
% of population (aged 18+) that reports being current smokers (daily or occasional)	CCHS (2023)	11.4	10.8	9.5	12.4	14.7	15.4	N/A	13.7	N/A	11.1	11.9	12.5	12.2	N/A
% of population (aged 18+) that reports heavy drinkingFootnote 129	CCHS (2023)	19.4	19.3	19.4	19.9	19.1	22.3	N/A	21.2	N/A	17.4	20.6	22.2	19.9	N/A
% of population (aged 12+) who reported sustaining a head injury or concussion	CCHS (2022)	1.7	2.7	2.2	1.7	1.8	1.5	N/A	2.1	N/A	1.5	FFootnote 130	1.4	1.5	N/A
% of population (aged 18–79) with high LDL cholesterol	CHMS (2018–2019)	33.3	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
% of population (aged 20+) with diagnosed diabetesFootnote 131	CCDSS (2022–2023)	10.7	10.5	10.5	12.7	N/A	11.7	N/A	10.4	8.9	11.7	9.8	8.6Footnote 132	11.1	9.1
% of population (aged 20+) with diagnosed hypertension (high blood pressure)Footnote 133	CCDSS (2022–2023)	22.3	24.2	21.7	28.6	N/A	28.9	N/A	24.5	22.4	22.9	23.1	18.8Footnote 134	25.0	21.8
% of population (aged 15+) classified as meeting criteria for major depressive episode in the 12 months prior to interviewFootnote 135	MHACS (2022)	7.6	9.6	8.2	7.7	XFootnote 136	X	N/A	8.8	N/A	8.3	X	5.8	F	N/A
% of population (aged 18+) that are living with obesity (self-reported, adjusted BMI)Footnote 137	CCHS (2023)	30.2	31.2	24.3	35.1	41.1	41.1	N/A	38.3	N/A	30.0	39.7	29.1	40.2	N/A
% of population (aged 15) who performed below Level 2 in reading literacyFootnote 138	PISA (2022)
% of population (aged 65+) with an uncorrected vision problem	CCHS (2023)	6.3	5.6	6.2	5.5	5.4	2.6	N/A	4.0	N/A	7.7	5.2	5.3	5.3	N/A

Table 2b: Dementia risk factors across Canada

Dementia Risk Factor	Source	National	Atlantic Canada	British Columbia	Prairies and northern Ontario	Southern Ontario	Southern Quebec
Regional population-weighted average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) (micrograms per cubic metre), for latest year (2021) (air pollution) (micrograms per cubic metre)Footnote 139	Fuller-Thomson et al. (2024)	6.8	4.5	7.4	6.1	4.0	7.3

Table 2c: Dementia protective factors across Canada^{Footnote 140}

Dementia protective factor	SourceFootnote 141,Footnote 142	National	AB	BC	MB	NB	NL	NT	NS	NU	ON	PE	QC	SK	YT
% of population (aged 18+) that report accumulating at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each week, in bouts of 10 minutes or moreFootnote 143	CCHS (2021)	53.9	58.0	62.4	52.8	50.6	50.3	N/A	55.4	N/A	51.5	51.3	51.7	52.2	N/A
% of population (aged 18+) that reports a "very strong" or "somewhat strong" sense of belonging to their local community (social isolation is a dementia risk factor)Footnote 144	CCHS (2023)	60.6	61.2	61.2	64.0	61.9	70.5	N/A	62.3	N/A	61.4	62.1	56.3	67.9	N/A

Endnotes