CABHI and Brain Canada partner to transform research into real-world brain health solutions that improve older persons' mental health and prevent dementia

Leading-edge research in mental health and brain health will soon be translated more quickly into evidence-based tools, resources, programs, and solutions that directly improve the lives of older persons--including those living with dementia. Brain Canada and the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI, powered by Baycrest), two leading national organizations driving the advancement and real-world application of brain health research, are partnering to launch a new funding opportunity designed to speed up the translation of proven research into products that improve older Canadians' brain health and quality of life. It often takes longer than 10 years for research to transform into solutions that people can actually use to stay healthy, active, and connected as they age.

As of this year, Canada's population is super-aged, with one in five people over the age of 65. Dementia cases are similarly on the rise, expected to reach 1.7 million by 2050, at an annual cost to Canadians of $110 billion. The growing urgency to prepare healthcare and long-term care systems, support care partners, and extend older persons' healthspan (the length of time people are able to live healthy, active lives) requires that proven brain health research be more quickly and efficiently translated into the real world, where it can be used to detect, prevent, treat and provide care for dementia.

Research shows that mental health is a critical component of healthy aging, with a direct impact on a person's risk of developing dementia. The 2026 Knowledge Mobilization Grants: Mental Health of Older Persons, funded by both Brain Canada and CABHI, will support projects that address key areas of mental health, including early identification and response to common challenges faced by older persons, advancing preventive and community-based approaches that enhance well-being and quality of life, and strengthening supports for family caregivers and care partners.

A defining feature of the program is its emphasis on collaboration, not only with Brain Canada and CABHI's expertise and resources, but also with end users. Funded teams will be expected to work closely with the people who will ultimately use their knowledge products, including healthcare providers, policymakers, care partners, community organizations, and older persons themselves, to ensure solutions are relevant, accessible, and sustainable.

Through the Canada Brain Research Fund (Brain Canada's partnership with the Government of Canada through Health Canada) and CABHI (with funding through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's Strategic Science Fund and the Government of Ontario), the two organizations have jointly committed $300,000 to support up to four projects. The one-year grants will fund initiatives focused on developing new knowledge mobilization outputs, increasing the reach of existing evidence-based resources, or implementing research findings in practice settings where they can drive measurable change.

To learn more about the 2026 Knowledge Mobilization Grants: Mental Health of Older Persons and access application materials, visit https://braincanada.ca/files/km2026-request-for-applications.pdf.