Canada is hosting the world’s biggest dementia conference for the first time in a decade. What’s changed since then?

This week, researchers from around the globe are descending upon downtown Toronto to attend the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, the world’s biggest and most influential meeting for dementia research.

The gathering is a chance for the international dementia community to discuss the latest research in the field; it’s also where significant breakthroughs are often unveiled. At a related event on Saturday, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) – Canada’s health research funding agency – announced $44.8-million in new funding for dementia and aging-related research initiatives, including the creation of 16 teams that will study everything from Alzheimer’s biomarkers to dementia in Indigenous populations.