Inside Canada’s national dementia strategy

Where legislation meets implementation, Dr. Carrie McAiney champions the involvement of those living with dementia, and discusses the challenges that lie ahead - By Jordan Flemming University Relations - Dementia is a significant public health issue in Canada. According to the Alzheimer Society, an estimated 600,000 Canadians are living with dementia in 2023. As our population ages, the number of Canadians with dementia is projected to exceed 1,000,000 by 2030. The World Health Organization monitors countries with dementia strategies, recognizing dementia as a public health and societal concern. Canada, despite being one of the world's leading economies, lacked a national dementia strategy, prompting pressure for action. In 2017, the Canadian government enacted the National Strategy for Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias Act, signaling a significant step toward addressing this pressing issue. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) took the lead in shaping and implementing the national strategy.