CANADA—Early onset dementia could nearly double from 28,000 estimated cases in 2020 in the next 30 years, a new study suggests. The study relies on self-reported data from the 2016 Canadian census and other research to predict the impacts of dementia by 2050. The study utilizes a simplified approach and assumes a singular ethnic origin for individuals, despite many Canadians citing multiple ancestries. The demographic profile of people living with dementia is calculated to change significantly.
Released by the Alzheimer Society of Canada, a national charity dedicated to individuals with dementias like Alzheimer’s disease, this report, unveiled on Monday, stands as one of the pioneering studies aimed at gaining a better understanding of the multifaceted nature of dementia. Recognized as a significant public health concern in Canada and globally, dementia presents a complex challenge that requires comprehensive insights.
In 2020, nearly 67 percent of people with dementia were recorded as being of European ancestry while the remaining 33 percent were of varying ethnic origins. The study expects that within 26 years, the boom in dementia patients will occur in individuals of Asian background and that this demographic will represent a quarter of dementia patients. This will increase from 8 percent to nearly 24 percent in 2050.
The portion of dementia patients with Canadian and European origins is expected to decrease by 2050. However, more people of Indigenous, Caribbean, and African lineages are expected to develop dementia.
“These shifts reflect the diversity of older adults in Canada. With changing immigration patterns over the past number of decades, we are seeing a shift in the landscape of who develops dementia in Canada in terms of ethnicity and race,” the study explained. The study recommends that the healthcare system needs to consider the diversity of the population in Canada and take on a more specialized approach to research on racialized groups suffering from dementia to improve the care of patients as well as their support. Employing culturally safe and accessible training for healthcare providers is a necessity, as medical racism is an ongoing problem in Canada. Racism in healthcare and social programs needs improving, as well as collecting more reliable race-based data on brain health.
“Overall, these findings highlight the need to address, capture, and study diversity in all domains of dementia,” the study noted. “From research studies to care systems, we need to work toward more inclusivity to optimize health and health-care for all.”
The researchers acknowledged that these findings are only starting to “scratch the surface” about how dementia affects ethnic and racial groups in Canada.
They concluded that “through intentional design, Canadian policies, programs, services and supports need to be tailored to meet the different needs across groups.”
A recent study suggests that an increased emphasis on tailored services and support for diverse communities is essential. It anticipates a 187 percent surge in the number of Canadians living with dementia by 2050. With the aging population in Canada on the rise, the study projects that over 1.7 million individuals in the country may experience the cognitive disorder in 26 years, a significant increase from the estimated 597,300 people in 2020.
“Structural barriers and social determinants of health have had an impact on the brain health of a large segment of the population,” said Dr. Joshua Armstrong, Alzheimer Society of Canada research scientist and lead author of the study, in a press release. “Our findings highlight that we need to adapt how we help everyone – including Indigenous, racialized and younger adults – live with dementia while supporting access to care, diagnosis and prevention tools for all.”
Armstrong wrote in an email to CTVNews.ca that “poverty has been associated with an increased risk for neurological conditions, while those who are wealthy or live in a well-off region tend to have better health outcomes.”
“However, more research is needed to fully understand the trends and care needs of these populations in Canada. These communities include various ethnic and racialized groups; 2SLGBTQI+ individuals; people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Down syndrome; people who are incarcerated; under-housed people; and people living with substance use disorders.”
