Making Dementia A National Health Priority In Canada

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Article Date: 31 Jan 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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The Alzheimer Society of Canada is in Ottawa, asking politicians to make the commitment to ensure dementia becomes a national health priority.

The Society is making its presence felt at Parliament Hill today, helping to raise awareness about the growing dementia epidemic, and emphasizing the need to take action now.

"We are asking politicians to do two things today. First, we want them to make the commitment to improving their own brain health," says Scott Dudgeon, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Canada (ASC). "Second, we want them to make the commitment to the thousands of their own constituents living with Alzheimer's and related diseases, by ensuring that dementia becomes a national health priority."

Dementia, of which Alzheimer's disease is the most common form, affects about half a million Canadians. Unless a cure can be found, that number is expected to rise dramatically within the next generation.

"It is our belief that the Government of Canada must recognize this potential health crisis now, while there is still time to put together a comprehensive strategy for research funding and care delivery," says Ray Congdon, volunteer president of ASC.

For more information, see the Backgrounder.

The Alzheimer Society is a nationwide, not-for-profit health organization dedicated to helping people affected by Alzheimer's disease. The Society is a leading funder of Alzheimer research and training in Canada, and develops and provides support and educational programs for people with the disease, their families and their caregivers.

Alzheimer Society of Canada