1. Tell us about your organization – who you are, what you do, and what your mission is.
We are the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA). This entity has been in existence since 2014 and is a network of over 310 Canadian scientists in 19 teams that are collaborating on research aimed at preventing, treating, and curing age-related neurodegenerative diseases (NDD), and on improving the quality of life of people living with dementia.
2. Why is dementia research important, and what are the current areas of focus for research in this field today?
While tremendous strides have been made in understanding the development and presentation of dementia, an effective treatment has not yet been developed. As the segment of the population over 65 grows, the number with dementia will also grow. According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, it is expected that by 2031, 937,000 Canadians will be living with dementia, a 66% increase over the present day. The cost of caring for those with dementia is expected to increase from $10.4 billion per year at present to $16.6 billion by then. These statistics highlight the urgency to find effective ways to prevent and treat dementia.
At CCNA, we believe that it is important to approach the challenge of dementia from as broad a perspective as possible, so we have people working on discovering the mechanisms of dementia and how to block them, others are working on ways to identify dementia markers before symptoms occur, and others are looking for ways to minimize its impact once it is present. As well, we have programs focussed on prioritizing certain aspects within our research such as how dementia impacts the sexes differently and why (Alzheimer’s disease affects more women than men, while Parkinson’s disease, especially with cognitive decline, affects more men than women); how to eliminate the stigma associated with dementia; and how to help improve the awareness and involvement of indigenous peoples in our research program.
3. What programs and resources are available through your organization?
We have a website (http://ccna-ccnv.ca) where people can learn more about who we are and the work we are doing. On there, we have a “contact us” link where one can ask for specific information and we will respond with what we know and pertinent programs and resources that may help.
4. How can interested individuals or groups support your organization and the amazing work you are doing?
The government recently introduced a National Dementia Strategy which aims to greatly increase Canada’s response to the challenge of dementia through increased funding of care and research. We encourage everyone to let their local government representatives and candidates know that they support the National Dementia Strategy and wish to see it fully funded (https://alzheimer.ca/en/Home/Get-involved/Advocacy).
As well, we are presently recruiting participants for a study we are doing across the country to extend our understanding of what is occurring as dementia develops and progresses. The study is called the Comprehensive Assessment of Neurodegeneration and Dementia (COMPASS-ND) study and more information about it can be found at http://ccna-ccnv.ca/compass-nd-study/. In addition, we will soon be beginning a study looking at different ways to prevent the development and progression of dementia to determine which method, or combination of methods, is the most effective. The details of this study and how/where to enroll will be on our website in the coming months.
