Dementia strategy for Canada

The following is from a report called “A Dementia STRATEGY FOR CANADA,“ published by Public Health Canada in 2020. I had two friends who died after getting early-onset Alzheimer’s so I have a personal interest in making sure the information about what we can do about this issue is out to as many people as possible.

 Factors affecting the risk of dementia,

There is growing persuasive scientific evidence that healthy living throughout a lifetime may prevent or delay the onset of dementia. Along with having healthy environments to live in, there are individual health behaviours and other factors that can affect the chance of developing dementia. This list outlines several of the factors identified. Research is underway to further explore the links between the risk of developing dementia, individual actions, and environmental surroundings.

From unhealthy to healthy behaviours:

•         Physical inactivity                                       Be more active.

•         Harmful alcohol use                                    Reduce or quit alcohol use.

•         Smoking in later life (over age 65)             Reduce or quit smoking.

•         Sleep disturbances (e.g., obstructive sleep apnea)  Taking steps towards sufficient and better quality sleep.

Management of these health conditions:

•         High blood pressure (hypertension)

•         Stroke, heart disease and other vascular diseases (affecting blood vessels like arteries and veins)

•          Cholesterol levels

•          Diabetes

•          Obesity

Other factors:

•          Social isolation        Social engagement and inclusion

•          Lower levels of early life education      More years of childhood education

EFFORTS ACROSS CANADA

Encouraging physical activity

 

•         The Sharing Dance initiative gets Canadians moving through dance (National Ballet School of Canada and Baycrest).

•         The Hockey Fans In Training project keeps middle-aged men across Canada at risk of chronic disease active (Western University).

•         The Let’s Get Moving Initiative encourages all Canadians to be more active (ParticipACTION).

Reducing the number of Canadians with chronic health conditions

•          The Activate: Community Hypertension Prevention Initiative increases awareness of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk and how to manage risk factors (Heart and Stroke Foundation, Ontario, and British Columbia).

•          The Canadian Diabetes Prevention Program focuses on physical activity and healthy eating to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes (LMC Healthcare and Diabetes Canada).

•          The Healthy Living in St. James Town project focuses primarily on South Asian and African populations who have a higher risk for diabetes and high blood pressure (St. James Town Family Literacy Services, Ontario).

 Promoting healthy choices

·   The Walk or Run to Quit initiative reduces tobacco use and increases physical activity (Canadian Cancer Society).

·   The Activate Your Health project encourages employees in the workplace, particularly women aged 25 to 54, to improve eating habits and physical activity (Capsana, Québec).

Picking up the PACE (Promoting and Accelerating Change through Empowerment) aims to help care providers address modifiable risk behaviours such as physical inactivity, excessive alcohol use and poor diet as a part of smoking cessation treatment (Centre for Addictions and Mental Health).

·    Food Fit: Promoting Healthy Eating and Fitness in Low-Income Communities supports increased knowledge about nutritious foods improves cooking/food preparation skills and encourages physical activity (Community Food Centres Canada).

 

Improving our understanding of what contributes to the risk of developing dementia.

·   The PURE-MIND study is investigating the link between covert (small) strokes and dementia (Heart and Stroke Foundation).

·   The New Brunswick Brain Health Initiative: Preventing Alzheimer’s by Lessening Modifiable Risk offers participants support on reducing risk while evaluating risk factors (the University of New Brunswick and Horizon Health Network).

·  Efforts are being made to better understand how lifestyle and personality factors affect the risk of developing dementia (Sylvia Villeneuve from McGill University and CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de- Montreal-Douglas Hospital, Montreal).

·    Cognitive training programs are being used to learn more about how the brain’s resistance to damage and its ability to change is linked to age-related neurodegenerative diseases (Université de Montréal, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Baycrest, University of Toronto).

Improving the knowledge and skills of the health care workforce

•    Online resources are available to ensure health care professionals, professors and students working in French have the opportunity to improve knowledge about neurocognitive disorders and to support safe and effective interventions (Le Consortium national de formation en santé – Volet, University of Ottawa).