Using AI to solve the most urgent societal challenge of our time is a no-brainer

Aging and brain health represent one of the biggest economic risks and opportunities of our time. As populations age, countries face mounting pressures on labour markets, productivity, healthcare systems, and public spending. At the same time, the transition to older societies is creating demand for new industries, technologies, and business models that can support longer and healthier lives.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report identifies the transition to super-aged societies as one of the defining challenges of the next decade — with significant implications for workforce participation, economic growth, and the sustainability of social systems. However, aging should not be viewed only as a challenge to manage; it is also a major market opportunity. The global longevity economy is expanding rapidly, and investments in brain health, dementia prevention, and aging innovation have the potential to generate substantial economic returns while creating new industries and high-value jobs.

Traditional approaches alone will not be enough to address the scale of demographic change. Rising demand, workforce constraints, and increasing complexity across health and social systems require new models that improve efficiency, increase productivity, and enable people to remain engaged in society and the economy for longer.

Artificial intelligence has the potential to be a critical economic catalyst in this transformation. Unlike traditional technologies designed for narrow applications, AI can analyze complex datasets, identify emerging trends, automate processes, optimize decision-making, and enable entirely new products and services. In aging and brain health, AI can accelerate the development of solutions that support prevention, early detection, personalized interventions, and more efficient models of care — creating opportunities for companies to build scalable technologies with global demand.

The economic case for investing in brain health and aging innovation is significant. Studies estimate that every $1 invested in brain health could generate a $3 return to the economy, while delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by just one year could save $219 billion USD annually by 2050. These returns demonstrate that brain health is not only a healthcare priority — it is a strategic economic investment.

Canada is uniquely positioned to lead this emerging market. As an early global leader in artificial intelligence, with world-class AI research capacity, a strong innovation ecosystem, and growing expertise in aging and brain health, Canada has the opportunity to become a global hub for agetech and AI-enabled solutions. By combining AI capabilities with deep expertise in human-centred design and commercialization, Canada can create globally competitive companies, attract investment, and capture a share of one of the fastest-growing markets in the world.

Many of the most promising aging and brain health innovations supported through CABHI’s (Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation) programs demonstrate the economic potential of this sector. Since 2015, innovations supported by CABHI have gone on to generate more than $1 billion in follow-on investment, with several companies expanding into international markets.

These innovations showcase what an AI-enabled aging economy can look like. They include digital conversational platforms that create new opportunities for cognitive engagement and social connection; AI-powered companions that analyze behavioural patterns to identify meaningful changes over time; and passive brain monitoring technologies that transform everyday data into actionable insights. These companies are not only improving outcomes for individuals — they are creating intellectual property, building exportable products, generating employment, and positioning Canada as a leader in the global longevity economy.

Scaling Canadian AI champions will be critical to maintaining Canada’s competitiveness in the global economy. Canada’s AI Strategy recognizes the importance of moving beyond research excellence to commercialization, adoption, and economic growth. The opportunity is not simply to develop AI technologies, but to build companies and industries that can compete globally.

Canada’s ability to lead in AI will depend not only on developing world-class technologies, but on successfully bringing them to market. A common myth is that older persons are technology-averse. CABHI’s market research shows that Canadians aged 50+ are active technology users and represent an important early adopter market for AI-enabled aging solutions. Designing technologies alongside older adults and caregivers will strengthen trust, improve adoption, and increase the likelihood that Canadian innovations can scale domestically and globally.

The next generation of AI innovation will be defined by its ability to address society’s most complex challenges while creating economic value. With dementia projected to cost the global economy more than $16 trillion by 2050, Canada has a significant opportunity to lead the development of a new brain economy — one that transforms demographic change into a driver of innovation, investment, and economic growth.