Grant: Operating Grant

Dementia is severe and disabling disease, touching many Canadians. Existing research has identified a number of potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia, such as exercise, participation in social activities, diet, and drug therapies. However, it is difficult to tell which factors are the most important for Canadians to address. Studies that project how many people will have dementia in the future, and how much resources (e.g., home care and nursing home) are required to care for these individuals are not well built. These projections do not factor the risk factors for the disease, which are changing over time, and also do not address the transitions in care-needs for people with dementia. Using population-based surveys and health care data, the aims of this study are to: (1) build world-class models for describing the relative importance of dementia risk factors; (2) identify the factors that lead to transitions between care settings (e.g. home, supportive housing, and nursing homes); and (3) accurately predict and project the future burden of dementia in the population. Furthermore, it will help assess the potential impact of interventions and policies that target dementia.