Report: Dementia cases will more than double in Canada

Canada's Alzheimer's Society reports 'waves of dementia cases' that will affect the nation's health and economy. The organization calls for action; otherwise, in the next 30 years, Canadians will be afflicted with a new case every two minutes.

The aging population in Canada is on the rise, and in a report titled 'Rising Tide', The Alzheimer's Society states that the future prevalence of dementia are staggering. The disease that currently has no cure will more than double, affecting three percent of Canadians. CTV reports that this translates to more than 250,000 new cases each year, and according to experts, without a national strategy, dementia will overwhelm hospitals, clinics and households. Increasingly diagnosed at an earlier age, the disease is observed by memory decline, cognitive deficits, mood and behavioral changes and an inability to perform routine activities. In an economic sense, dementia annually bills Canada's health care system $15 billion. The 30-year projection indicate that this annual cost will multiply 10 times. A spokesperson from the society states that the yearly cost of dementia to health care will exceed $150 billion, thus the cumulative cost over the thirty year period will be over $870 billion. The Toronto Star makes a statement that "Canada is totally unprepared for the financial, social and health crisis bearing down on [Canadians] as the baby boomers approach their senior years". 'Prevention' is part of the report's strategy and cites healthy eating and regular routines toward improving mental and physical fitness as an effective means to delay the onset of the disease. It is a fact that age is the primary risk factor, thus recommendations have been made to "all Canadians over 65" that are symptom-free to "increase their physical activity by 50%". January is Alzheimer Awareness Month.