A new study predicts the number of Canadians living with dementia will nearly double by the year 2050.

The report, titled “The Many Faces of Dementia in Canada” was released by the Alzheimer Society of Canada. They say Canada is in danger of failing the rapidly growing number of people living with dementia and their care partners if services and supports are not tailored to their unique needs.

The Landmark Study predicts the number of Indigenous Peoples living with dementia will increase from 10,800 to 40,300 in the next 25 years.

The report notes that women represent an estimated 61.8 per cent of all people currently living with dementia, and by 2050 there will be over 1 million women experiencing the condition. Canadians of Asian origin will represent 25 per cent of all cases of the illness.

The report concludes with a list of actions that Alzheimer Societies across Canada, healthcare providers, governments, and researchers can take to better understand dementia in Indigenous populations and diverse communities, along with suggestions on how to tackle the gender gap present in the condition.