February 6, 2024
On Jan. 29, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) announced an $8.7M investment from the Government of Canada and partners to study age-related cognitive impairment. We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Mahsa Dadar obtained one of these 13 special Operating Grants for her project, entitled Incorporating Diversity in Alzheimer’s Disease Research: Developing Representative and Generalizable Models.
The announcement of this large investment was made during Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. CIHR teamed up with the Azrieli Foundation and its Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, to support 13 research teams who are studying ways to reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in aging. According to the latest national data, almost 477,000 people aged 65 and older have been diagnosed with dementia in Canada. Of those living with the condition, nearly two-thirds are women.
“The Government of Canada is committed to promoting the physical and mental health of older persons to enable them to live longer at home. Dementia is a major reason that older adults move out of their homes into long-term care. The initiatives undertaken by CIHR and its partners will help us better understand the causes of dementia, how to prevent it and how to treat it, thereby allowing greater numbers of older adults to age in place.” – The Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health
Through this investment, seven teams are researching risk reduction and care for people with dementia; four teams are studying the short- and long-term health risks for caregivers of people with age-related dementia; one team is investigating the impact of infection and inflammation on brain health; and one team is focusing on Indigenous health research and how to provide culturally appropriate care for those impacted by dementia. These grants will also allow for the training and mentorship of the next generation of dementia researchers in Canada.
“As the number of Canadians impacted by dementia grows, it is important to learn more about how it affects people with pre-existing brain-based disabilities and their caregivers and care providers who have been underrepresented in health research. We are pleased to partner with CIHR to fund critical research that will give us all greater insight into the short- and long-term health consequences for people with age-related dementia and those who care for them.” – Naomi Azrieli, Chair and CEO, Azrieli Foundation
Congratulations again to Dr. Dadar, whose project will contribute valuable information to our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease!