With a new case diagnosed every five minutes, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia is already a heavy human, health and economic burden in Canada. But a report this month by the Alzheimer Society of Canada warns that rate of incidence will increase to one every two minutes by 2038 and calls for a comprehensive national dementia strategy.

In 2008, Canadians with dementia required 231 million hours of informal health care; the report, Rising Tide: The Impact of Dementia on Canadian Society says that will rise to 756 million hours in 30 years. "The economic burden of dementia doubles every decade, increasing from $15 billion in 2008 to a startling $153 billion in 2038," the report says. "We must act now."

Assuring politicians and the public that change is possible, the Rising Tide report offers potential intervention scenarios, examples of plans of other countries and five recommendations:

• an accelerated investment in all areas of dementia research;
  
• a clear recognition of the important role played by informal caregivers;
  
• an increased recognition of the importance of prevention and early intervention;
  
• greater integration of care and increased use of chronic disease prevention and management;
  
• a strengthening of Canada's dementia workforce.

The complete report can be downloaded from www.alzheimer.ca