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General News · 20th May 2025
Mercedes Grant
What is dementia?
Dementia is a broad term used to describe a decline in cognitive function. Dementia is not a single disease but rather a progressive symptom of a variety of disorders that can affect remembering, thinking, communicating and reasoning. The key characteristics of dementia include memory loss, especially short-term, difficulty with language and finding words, poor judgement and reasoning, confusion, disorientation, changes in mood, personality and behaviour and increased difficulty with complex tasks or daily routines.
There are different types of dementia, and include Alzheimer’s disease, the most common, vascular dementia which is caused by reduced blood flow to brain (e.g. strokes), lewy body dementia which may include visual hallucinations, frontotemporal dementia which can affect personality, behaviour and language more than memory in initial stages and “mixed” dementia which can be a combination of disorders.
Growth and Impact of Dementia in Canada, and Globally:
The Alzheimer Society of Canada projects that the number of Canadians living with dementia will nearly triple by 2050, rising from approximately 747,000 in 2010 to over 1.7 million by 2050.
By 2030, nearly 1 million people in Canada could live with dementia, representing a 51% increase in the number of new cases annually compared to 2020.
The total cost of care for persons with dementia was about $15 billion in Canada in 2008, and this is expected to rise to $153 billion by 2038.
A study published in The Lancet in 2022 reported that the number of adults (aged 40 +) living with dementia worldwide is expected to nearly triple by 2050.
While these stats are broadly attributed to a rapidly aging global population, it’s important to understand that dementia is not considered a “normal” part of aging. Many factors can contribute to the potential risk of developing dementia, not least of all genetics, socio-economic status and stress. Increased stress levels reduce the functioning of the immune system, which is a major contributor to the development of dementia, alongside prior viral infections and inflammation. As an example, a peer reviewed, scientific study from 2022 reports that “Older people who were infected with COVID-19 show a substantially higher risk—as much as 50% to 80% higher than a control group—of developing Alzheimer’s disease within a year, according to a study of more than 6 million patients 65 and older.” (https://thedaily.case.edu/new-study-risk-factor-for-developing-alzheimers-disease-increases-by-50-80-in-older-adults-who-caught-covid-19/) In turn, people who have dementia are more at risk of contracting viral infections.
Preventing dementia relies largely on systemic change; from equitable access to quality healthcare, housing, food, water and education, to consistent, sustainable community care - it’s unsurprising that we are seeing a rise in dementia globally as we navigate an increasingly stressful world landscape. Any ways in which you, alongside your community, can reduce stress and increase access to basic needs and health protections, the greater the opportunity for reducing the risk of dementia.
Dementia Prevention Resources - The Alzheimer’s Society: https://alzheimer.ca/en/about-dementia/how-can-i-reduce-risk-dementia
National Resource Library - The Alzheimer’s Society
https://alzheimer.ca/en/help-support/dementia-resources/national-resource-library
Video Resources - The Alzheimer’s Society
https://alzheimer.ca/en/help-information/dementia-resources/video-resources
Living with Dementia, Resources - The Alzheimer’s Society
https://alzheimer.ca/en/help-information/im-living-dementia
Caring for a Person Living with Dementia, Resources - The Alzheimer’s Society
https://alzheimer.ca/en/help-information/im-caring-person-living-dementia
Considering the Caregiver
https://www.cortesisland.com/tideline/show16733a46s0x50y1z/Healthy_Community_Series_Considering_The_Caregivers
The Canadian Charter of Rights for People with Dementia - The Alzheimer’s Society
https://alzheimer.ca/en/get-involved/change-minds/canadian-charter-rights-people-dementia
Care Options & Costs
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/home-community-care/care-options-and-cost
Dementia Resources in so-called B.C.
https://alzheimer.ca/bc/en/help-support/programs-services/dementia-resources-bc
https://alzheimer.ca/bc/en/accessing-home-support-care-services-bc
Music for Dementia
https://www.musicfordementia.org.uk/the-science
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44220-024-00342-x
Webinar // Dementia Friendly Communities
Date: May 21st, 2025
Presenter: Alzheimer's Society of BC
Description: Join us to learn more about dementia and explore simple strategies that can create a more supportive, inclusive and welcoming community for people affected by the disease.
Register here:
https://bc.healthyagingcore.ca/training-events/webinar-dementia-friendly-communities-1/event
Podcast // Dementia Dialogues
Our podcast provides people with lived experience a way to share their stories with each other and the broader community. Listeners who have dementia, care partners, and others gain insight and strengthen their adaptive skills. Episodes also help the broader community understand what it means to live with dementia and how they can support people.
We also interview researchers, authors, advocates, health professionals, and others who are contributing to improving the lives of people with dementia. Our guests are experts in their own lived experience or in a select field relevant to the dementia experience.
https://www.dementiadialogue.ca/
Virtual Education //
Learn about dementia in this free online course from McMaster University.
https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/e-learning/dementia
If you are a Better at Home client and you have a partner with dementia, you could be eligible for some free weekly respite care. Please contact our program coordinator Ester Strijbos to talk about the possibilities within the Better at Home program. If you are not a client yet you can sign up at any time. You can reach Ester at betterathomecortesgmail.com or 250-204-2116
Dementia is a broad term used to describe a decline in cognitive function. Dementia is not a single disease but rather a progressive symptom of a variety of disorders that can affect remembering, thinking, communicating and reasoning. The key characteristics of dementia include memory loss, especially short-term, difficulty with language and finding words, poor judgement and reasoning, confusion, disorientation, changes in mood, personality and behaviour and increased difficulty with complex tasks or daily routines.
There are different types of dementia, and include Alzheimer’s disease, the most common, vascular dementia which is caused by reduced blood flow to brain (e.g. strokes), lewy body dementia which may include visual hallucinations, frontotemporal dementia which can affect personality, behaviour and language more than memory in initial stages and “mixed” dementia which can be a combination of disorders.
Growth and Impact of Dementia in Canada, and Globally:
The Alzheimer Society of Canada projects that the number of Canadians living with dementia will nearly triple by 2050, rising from approximately 747,000 in 2010 to over 1.7 million by 2050.
By 2030, nearly 1 million people in Canada could live with dementia, representing a 51% increase in the number of new cases annually compared to 2020.
The total cost of care for persons with dementia was about $15 billion in Canada in 2008, and this is expected to rise to $153 billion by 2038.
A study published in The Lancet in 2022 reported that the number of adults (aged 40 +) living with dementia worldwide is expected to nearly triple by 2050.
While these stats are broadly attributed to a rapidly aging global population, it’s important to understand that dementia is not considered a “normal” part of aging. Many factors can contribute to the potential risk of developing dementia, not least of all genetics, socio-economic status and stress. Increased stress levels reduce the functioning of the immune system, which is a major contributor to the development of dementia, alongside prior viral infections and inflammation. As an example, a peer reviewed, scientific study from 2022 reports that “Older people who were infected with COVID-19 show a substantially higher risk—as much as 50% to 80% higher than a control group—of developing Alzheimer’s disease within a year, according to a study of more than 6 million patients 65 and older.” (https://thedaily.case.edu/new-study-risk-factor-for-developing-alzheimers-disease-increases-by-50-80-in-older-adults-who-caught-covid-19/) In turn, people who have dementia are more at risk of contracting viral infections.
Preventing dementia relies largely on systemic change; from equitable access to quality healthcare, housing, food, water and education, to consistent, sustainable community care - it’s unsurprising that we are seeing a rise in dementia globally as we navigate an increasingly stressful world landscape. Any ways in which you, alongside your community, can reduce stress and increase access to basic needs and health protections, the greater the opportunity for reducing the risk of dementia.
Dementia Prevention Resources - The Alzheimer’s Society: https://alzheimer.ca/en/about-dementia/how-can-i-reduce-risk-dementia
National Resource Library - The Alzheimer’s Society
https://alzheimer.ca/en/help-support/dementia-resources/national-resource-library
Video Resources - The Alzheimer’s Society
https://alzheimer.ca/en/help-information/dementia-resources/video-resources
Living with Dementia, Resources - The Alzheimer’s Society
https://alzheimer.ca/en/help-information/im-living-dementia
Caring for a Person Living with Dementia, Resources - The Alzheimer’s Society
https://alzheimer.ca/en/help-information/im-caring-person-living-dementia
Considering the Caregiver
https://www.cortesisland.com/tideline/show16733a46s0x50y1z/Healthy_Community_Series_Considering_The_Caregivers
The Canadian Charter of Rights for People with Dementia - The Alzheimer’s Society
https://alzheimer.ca/en/get-involved/change-minds/canadian-charter-rights-people-dementia
Care Options & Costs
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/home-community-care/care-options-and-cost
Dementia Resources in so-called B.C.
https://alzheimer.ca/bc/en/help-support/programs-services/dementia-resources-bc
https://alzheimer.ca/bc/en/accessing-home-support-care-services-bc
Music for Dementia
https://www.musicfordementia.org.uk/the-science
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44220-024-00342-x
Webinar // Dementia Friendly Communities
Date: May 21st, 2025
Presenter: Alzheimer's Society of BC
Description: Join us to learn more about dementia and explore simple strategies that can create a more supportive, inclusive and welcoming community for people affected by the disease.
Register here:
https://bc.healthyagingcore.ca/training-events/webinar-dementia-friendly-communities-1/event
Podcast // Dementia Dialogues
Our podcast provides people with lived experience a way to share their stories with each other and the broader community. Listeners who have dementia, care partners, and others gain insight and strengthen their adaptive skills. Episodes also help the broader community understand what it means to live with dementia and how they can support people.
We also interview researchers, authors, advocates, health professionals, and others who are contributing to improving the lives of people with dementia. Our guests are experts in their own lived experience or in a select field relevant to the dementia experience.
https://www.dementiadialogue.ca/
Virtual Education //
Learn about dementia in this free online course from McMaster University.
https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/e-learning/dementia
If you are a Better at Home client and you have a partner with dementia, you could be eligible for some free weekly respite care. Please contact our program coordinator Ester Strijbos to talk about the possibilities within the Better at Home program. If you are not a client yet you can sign up at any time. You can reach Ester at betterathomecortesgmail.com or 250-204-2116
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