Alzheimer's Awareness Month: January 2026

January marks Alzheimer's Awareness Month in Canada. Why is this important?

As of January 2024, more than 750,000 Canadians are living with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia (Statistics Canada, 2024). With Canada's aging population, this means many seniors and their loved ones are impacted by Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's disease generally affects seniors over the age of 65, but individuals can begin to show signs earlier. It is s a progressive disease that impacts memory and cognitive skills as brain cells deteriorate over time. In turn, individuals will begin to lose the ability to complete simple tasks on their own.

There is a stigma around Alzheimer's as it is commonly misunderstood. The first step to combatting the stigma is awareness. Although the disease presents differently for everyone, it is often associated with fear and assumptions. This is why it is important to educate yourself and spread your knowledge about Alzheimer's with others.

This month, it is important to show your support to those impacted by Alzheimer's disease. Consider taking the time to learn, educate others, and show compassion to those living with it. There are many resources available online such as:

Alzheimer Society Nova Scotia: https://alzheimer.ca/ns/en

Alzheimer Society Canada: https://alzheimer.ca/en

Alzheimer's Association Canada: https://www.alz.org/ca/dementia-alzheimers-canada.asp

Teepa Snow: https://teepasnow.com/