Our goal is to promote healthy lifestyle habits known for their protective effect on the brain. Our program is based on proven behavioural change theories.
The Story
of Luci
In 2014, our founder, André Chagnon, lost his wife to Alzheimer’s, a disease that currently affects more than 500,000 people in Canada.
A visionary philanthropist approaching his 90s, Mr. Chagnon is committed to the development of a technological solution to help prevent cognitive decline for all.
And thus, Luci was born, and named after his beloved wife, Lucie Chagnon.
Major neurocognitive disorder
Prevention: a promising solution
1
Increasing number of cases
An estimated 600,000 Canadians were living with a cognitive disorder in 2022, of which Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type.
Canada’s population is aging rapidly. Over 125,000 new cases of major cognitive disorder are diagnosed every year.
The number of major neurocognitive disorder cases is expected to rise to approximately 1 million Canadians by 2030. (Ref.)
2
Impact on those living with AD and their caregivers
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other cognitive disorders have serious consequences on the life of the affected person and their loved ones.
In addition to affecting cognitive abilities such as memory, language, and attention, these diseases disrupt mood and behaviour. As the illness progresses, the affected person has increasing difficulty performing daily tasks, to the point of being unable to take care of themselves anymore.
It is estimated that in 2020, 350,000 family caregivers were dedicated to caring for a person with these conditions (ref.), averaging 26 hours per week. Among these family caregivers, 45% experience distress (ref.).
3
Impact on our healthcare system
Dementia is a major economic burden on the Canadian healthcare system. In fact, the direct annual costs of dementia in Canada are estimated to almost 13 billion dollars in 2022. (ref.).
Compared to seniors without cognitive impairment, seniors living with an NCD spend an additional 2.5 hours in the ER, have hospitalization rates that are 65% higher, and stay in the hospital for twice as long. (ref.)
4
Healthy lifestyle habits as a preventive measure
Although the cause is not yet well understood, scientists suggest that NCDs may result from a complex interplay between genes, environment, and lifestyle.
According to experts, up to 40% of cases could be explained by modifiable risk factors (ref.), a significant number of which are related to lifestyle.
This is why interventions focusing on healthy habits represent a promising strategy to reduce the risk of developing an NCD.