By Adam Morrison,
Senior Director, Public Policy & Partnerships, Alzheimer Society of Ontario
Every day, more than 350 people in Canada will develop Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia1. The Alzheimer Society of Canada’s Landmark Study found that by the end of this decade, more than 1 million Canadians will live with this disease and by 2050, this number will surpass 1.7 million2. There is no denying that Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most significant public health challenges of our time, but unlike other progressive conditions such as cancer, it lacks the urgency and comprehensive care it deserves.
There are many misconceptions and stereotypes that have become synonymous with Alzheimer’s. When a disease this prevalent continues to be poorly understood, it creates an environment for false beliefs to spread and thrive. This means for those living with the disease, symptoms including cognitive decline and personality changes are regularly dismissed or met with uncertainty and fear – forming a culture where barriers to early diagnosis, treatment, and social support for those living with it are all too prevalent.
Through our work, we have seen firsthand how this narrative has lasting impacts on patients and their loved ones. Many feel ashamed, isolated, or hesitant to seek care until the disease has drastically progressed. Compare this with cancer, where early detection is praised, and patients from the beginning are regularly encouraged to pursue aggressive treatment options. If we want to improve the lives of those with Alzheimer’s, we must actively dismantle these falsehoods, normalizing conversations about cognitive health and dementia.
Inequality in treatment approaches is evident in research funding. While Alzheimer’s is the seventh-leading cause of death worldwide, it receives less than 1.5 per cent of health research funding3. Despite this, new and emerging treatments are shaping the future of the disease. Significant efforts by researchers and patients, including those in Canada, have led to full U.S. FDA approval of two disease modifying treatments that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s in the past year. These medications target individuals with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s to help slow decline4.
With Health Canada’s decision on the approval of these medications still to come, efforts to help shift the approach to Alzheimer’s care must continue. This starts with ensuring that patients have equitable access to testing, community support services, and care partner support – no different than those facing other progressive conditions.
The approval of new treatments – the first in 20 years – is an important and welcomed first step in the fight against Alzheimer’s. We share the excitement of hundreds of thousands of Canadians impacted by this disease as advancements help inspire hope about a new future. As these treatments move closer to approval, policymakers must take action now to prepare the health system. This includes improving access to screening and assessment in the community, diagnostic testing that includes biomarker and genetic tests, making more flexible use of existing imaging devices, and increasing the number of dementia specialists, such as neurologists and geriatricians.
Alzheimer’s disease, like cancer, deserves to be treated with urgency, compassion, and comprehensive care. Changing the narrative surrounding the disease is crucial to normalizing early diagnosis and providing the resources and support necessary for both patients and care partners. We must invest more in Alzheimer’s research, expand treatment options, and create healthcare models that address the full spectrum of patient needs—from early intervention to end-of-life care.
By rethinking Alzheimer’s care in this way, we can give those impacted by this disease the chance to live out their life on their own accord.
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1 Alzheimer Society of Canada “Dementia numbers in Canada”. Available at: https://alzheimer.ca/en/about-dementia/what-dementia/dementia-numbers-canada. Last accessed: September 2024.
2 Alzheimer Society of Canada “Navigating the Path Forward for Dementia in Canada: The Landmark Study Report #1”. Available at: https://alzheimer.ca/en/research/reports-dementia/navigating-path-forward-landmark-report-1. Last accessed: September 2024.
3 World Health Organization “Launch of WHO’s first blueprint for dementia research”. Available at: https://www.who.int/news/item/04-10-2022-who-launches-a-blueprint-for-dementia-research. Last accessed: September 2024.
4 Alzheimer Society of Canada “Your questions, answered: what should Canadians know about lecanemab”. Available at: https://alzheimer.ca/en/whats-happening/news/updated-your-questions-answered-what-should-canadians-know-about-lecanemab. Last accessed: September 2024.
