Message from the Minister of Health on World Alzheimer's Day

September 21, 2026 | Ottawa, Ontario | Public Health Agency of Canada

On World Alzheimer’s Day, we honour every Canadian living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Dementia can affect memory, communication, judgment and the ability to carry out everyday activities. Its effects extend beyond the person diagnosed.

For families and caregivers, this can mean years of physical and emotional support. About

three in four Canadians know someone who is living or has lived with dementia. We stand with the families, friends, caregivers, health care providers, researchers and community organizations who support them. No one should have to face dementia alone.

That is why the Government of Canada continues to work with people living with dementia, caregivers, provinces and territories, Indigenous partners, researchers and community organizations to advance Canada’s national dementia strategy. Since the release of the strategy in 2019, the Government of Canada has invested more than $480 million in dementia research, better data, public awareness and projects that support people living with dementia and caregivers. Of this amount, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research has invested more than $321 million in dementia-related research.

The latest annual report on the strategy, A dementia strategy for Canada: Together we achieve, tracks changes in the state of dementia in Canada over time, looks back at five years of funded projects since 2019, and highlights the results of recent public opinion research that shows encouraging signs. In 2024, 34% of people surveyed reported intentionally taking steps to reduce their risk of dementia within the last year, up from 22% in 2020. Nonetheless, almost all respondents had engaged in activities that can help protect their brain health, including staying socially and physically active, and reducing their alcohol use.

Research and new treatments are critically important to improving outcomes and quality of life for people living with dementia. Over the past year, Health Canada authorized two new therapies for people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Unlike earlier treatments that primarily helped manage symptoms, these promising treatments may slow cognitive decline caused by Alzheimer’s disease during its early stages. Making evidence-informed therapies available to people in Canada is an important step in providing hope for the future for people diagnosed with dementia.

Dementia affects everyone differently and symptoms can vary by person and by day. Many people living with dementia continue to make meaningful contributions to their families, workplaces and communities. A strong Canada is one where people living with dementia are valued, understood, included, and supported. Today, I encourage all Canadians to learn about dementia, prioritize their brain health and challenge assumptions about people living with dementia.

The Honourable Marjorie Michel, P.C., M.P.