Empowering Communities for Better Brain Health: Bringing Dementia Prevention to All Canadians
CCNA Success/Impact Story (2025)

Brain Health PRO is transforming dementia prevention by empowering individuals and communities to take action through proven lifestyle strategies.

• While dementia poses a significant public health challenge, up to 40% of cases may be preventable by modifying lifestyle factors. Brain Health PRO is an online program developed collaboratively by experts, partners and older adults to reduce the risk of dementia by promoting changes in seven key lifestyle factors such as diet, sleep, and cognitive engagement.
• A large-scale initial study demonstrated that Brain Health PRO improved dementia literacy, self-efficacy and lifestyle behaviors. However, implementation science shows that proving efficacy is not enough for real-world adoption.  A new implementation project will aim to identify barriers to delivering Brain Health PRO in up to 14 public health agencies, community organizations, and clinical settings, and co-develop and test implementation strategies tailored to overcome them.
• The project was initially planned for Quebec but received crucial support from the Weston Family Foundation to expand across Canada and into diverse settings.  To date, the team generated enthusiasm as 10 partners have already expressed their interest in implementing the program.
• Additionally, the Knowledge Mobilization (KM) team with trainee George Philip (supported by a Fonds de recherche du Québec-Santé grant) developed the infographic “Brain Health PRO in a Nutshell” to share brain health knowledge and action tips in seven areas – sleep, vision and hearing, nutrition, physical activity, vascular health, social and psychological health, and cognitive engagement.
• Efforts were deployed for knowledge dissemination of this infographic to clinicians and the public to raise awareness and build anticipation of Brain Health PRO itself.  The communication plan included an email campaign (340+ outreach) and 25 social media posts, resulting in 3360+ impressions and 200+ engagements.
• The infographic was well received among knowledge users including health professionals and policy makers:

“This highly practical tool. (…) Its structure, along with the inclusion of both Knowledge and Action sections, makes it easy for audiences to understand and apply the information in their daily lives. It's a great addition to the talks we give on modifiable risk factors for dementia.”
- Dr. Heather Cooke, Manager, Research & KM, Alzheimer Society of BC.

“(…) The knowledge to action pages are an excellent education tool, and we have already started to hand out the infographic and will also put some in our waiting rooms.”
- Dr. Sandra Black, Sunnybrook Hospital.

About the Team

a) Brain Health PRO team:

• Dr. Sylvie Belleville, Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal and Centre de recherche de l’Institut de gériatrie de Montréal (CRIUGM)
• Dr. Walter Wittich, School of Optometry, Université de Montréal
• Dr. Nicole Anderson, Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education
• Dr. Edeltraut Kröger, School of Pharmacy, Université Laval / Department of Family Medicine, McGill University / Centre d'excellence sur le vieillissement de Québec (CEVQ), Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale (CIUSSS CN)
• Dr. Howard Chertkow, Scientific Director at CCNA
• Dr. Howard Feldman, Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego
• Dr. Manuel Montero-Odasso, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario / Gait and Brain Lab, Parkwood Institute
• Dr. Haakon B. Nygaard, Division of Neurology, University of British Columbia / Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health
• Dr. Hamid Golhasany, CRIUGM
• Kenneth Southall, CRIUGM
• Olivier Prigent, CRIUGM

The team brings together leading researchers from across Canada, with expertise spanning clinical research, dementia prevention, qualitative and quantitative methods, knowledge mobilization, and implementation science. This multidisciplinary collaboration brings together a rare breadth of expertise, ensuring a comprehensive approach to addressing dementia risk, grounded in both scientific evidence and real-world applicability for diverse communities and settings.

b) The Knowledge Mobilization team, led by Dr. Inbal Itzhak (CCNA's Senior Knowledge Mobilization Officer), and with George Philip (trainee).

Learn more about the CCNA: About Us - CCNA-CCNV.

Links to key/related outputs, including academic and non-academic, and further reading:

• Protocol for the Brain Health Support Program Study of the Canadian Therapeutic Platform Trial for Multidomain Interventions to Prevent Dementia (CAN-THUMBS UP): A Prospective 12-Month Intervention Study
• Using co-creation focus groups to customise a remote multidomain programme designed to increase dementia literacy
• Engaging older adults in the process of aging research: a multimethod study evaluating the experience and efficacy of a citizen advisory group for a dementia risk reduction program
• Brain health PRO/Santé cerveau PRO: The development of a web-based program for dementia literacy and risk factor reduction

Date modified:

2026-01-06