About National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month in Canada

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Each year Alzheimer’s Canada hosts National Alzheimer’s month.

Nearly one million Canadians are living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias today, a number expected to increase to 1.4 million in the next 15 years.

Three out of four Canadians know someone with dementia.
Women represent 72 percent of Canadians living with Alzheimer’s.
Two or more family members provide care for every person with the disease. Women account for 70 percent of family caregivers.

In 2011 alone, caregivers spent 444 million unpaid hours providing care. That’s the equivalent of $11 billion in lost income or 230,000 full-time jobs.

Dementia costs the Canadian economy $33 billion annually, and by 2040, that figure will skyrocket to $293 billion annually. Age is the most significant risk factor for dementia; after age 65, the risk doubles every five years.

Dementia also occurs in people in their 50s, 40s, and even 30s.

Dementia is progressive and varies significantly from person to person. From the initial onset, it can take eight to 10 years – or even longer, before death.

Dementia is fatal. Its causes are not fully known, and there is still no cure or effective treatment to prevent or reverse the disease.

Dementia is a collective term to describe brain disorders whose symptoms include:
A decline in memory, reasoning, and communication skills.
Gradual loss of ability to carry out day-to-day activities.
Changes in personality and behavior.

Dementia can be present in the brain for up to 25 years before symptoms appear.

There are many ways to get involved with the campaign at www.alzheimer.ca/stillhere: