As Canada’s aged population increases, so too does the prevalence of age-related brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, the principal cause of dementia in older adults. Over 500,000 Canadians currently suffer from dementia, and that number is expected to climb to nearly 1 million by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only exacerbated the physical, emotional, and cognitive health challenges of older adults, people living with dementia, and their care partners, but has also demonstrated the critical need for strengthening our healthcare system and ensuring timely, equitable access and support for all Canadians.
As the first-of-its-kind solution accelerator dedicated to driving innovation in the aging and brain health sector, the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), powered by Baycrest, mobilizes the research and development, validation testing, commercialization, and adoption of innovative products, services, and practices, so that the best solutions get into the hands of those who need them, as quickly as possible while also building the economy of the future.
Using a coordinated system effort to translate leading edge research and innovation into real world impact, CABHI has funded more than 350 projects, connected with more than 225,000 people through knowledge mobilization activities, and attracted more than $407M in follow on funding to the agetech sector.
We remain fully committed to advancing the National Dementia Strategy and are proud to have our work featured in Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC’s) latest annual report highlighting the progress being made in implementing the National Dementia Strategy.
“Work in all of these priority areas is critical to advance the implementation of Canada’s National Dementia Strategy,” says Dr. Allison Sekuler, President and Chief Scientist at CABHI. “We are extremely grateful to our network of funded innovators, researchers, and frontline healthcare workers, who apply their novel insights to the challenges of prevention, detection, and treatment of dementia. CABHI is proud to partner with PHAC in advancing research and innovation to improve the quality of life of people at-risk-for and living with dementia and their caregivers.”
CABHI identifies, validates, and grows the most promising solutions that enable older adults and caregivers to access more and better care and improve their quality of life. CABHI’s work creates a strong community of research and innovation in the senior care sector, supports spin-off companies, creates jobs, taps into global capital, and attracts investors to achieve significant impacts on health, social, and economic outcomes locally, nationally, and across the globe. By supporting the development and translation of leading-edge research and innovation in aging and brain health, advancing innovation skills development and talent aligned with Canada’s priorities, CABHI strengthens evidence-based decision-making and enhances Canada’s science, technology, and innovation excellence.
