The Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) provides the infrastructure and support that facilitates collaboration amongst Canada’s top dementia researchers and clinicians. CCNA is the premier hub for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia research in Canada, and a global leader in research on all aspects of neurodegenerative diseases from prevention to treatment to improving the quality of life of those living with the disease.
In 2014, 340+ clinicians and researchers throughout Canada came together to form CCNA with the goal of accelerating progress in research on age-related neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Vascular dementia, Frontotemporal dementia, and Lewy body dementia.
CCNA entered a Phase II of activities in 2019. Based on their area of specialization, CCNA’s researchers are divided into 19 teams throughout Canada, and are working in the areas of prevention, treatment, and quality of life. They draw on the data of national platforms such as LORIS, and are supported by cross-cutting programs, who assist teams in overarching aspects of research such as training and capacity building, engagement of people with lived experience, knowledge translation, ethical, legal, and social issues, and consideration of sex and gender, stigma, and indigenous peoples.
CCNA’s combined expertise will be used to strengthen understanding of:
- How these diseases develop?
- What can be done to slow progression and eventually to prevent the diseases altogether?
- Their impact on the individual, families, and the community as a whole.
By doing this, CCNA will strive to positively impact the quality of life and the quality of services for individuals living with neurodegenerative diseases.
