As the baby boom generation ages and Canadians over 65 make up an increasing portion of Canada’s population, policymakers must prioritize Alzheimer’s testing, treatment and care.
This demographic shift puts immense pressure on our health-care system in many areas, including the growing number of individuals living with some form of dementia. There are currently 750,000 Canadians living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia – a number projected to reach 1.7 million by 2050. Yet too often, seniors living with Alzheimer’s are dismissed as early memory loss can be misattributed to “normal aging.”
Misconceptions fuel stigma, delay diagnosis and result in missed opportunities for progress in research and treatment. Seniors with dementia are 1.5 times more likely to experience hospital harm and have twice the length of hospital stays compared to those without dementia, adding a substantial cost to the health-care system. Despite this, dementia research receives less than 1.5 per cent of health research funding.
As policymakers consider how to support Canada’s aging population amid the increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s, three crucial areas stand out:
Testing and early intervention: Early detection and definitive diagnosis are vital to better care. While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, early intervention can help delay disease progression, reducing the burden on families, care partners and our health-care system. Recently developed biomarker tests, including blood, cerebrospinal fluid, PET (amyloid-positron emission tomography) imaging and MRIs, can detect Alzheimer’s in its early stages. Funding access to these tests would enable more accurate diagnoses and help mitigate the impact of the disease.
Research and treatments: Advancements in Alzheimer’s research are very promising. Recently, researchers and patients, including those in Canada, have contributed to approving two disease-slowing treatments by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States. These medications slow cognitive decline for individuals with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s. They offer patients valuable time during the early clinical stages of the disease; maintaining daily function and quality of life is crucial. Patients tell us this is what’s important to them and those around them. Alzheimer’s is a complex, progressive disease. Like other serious conditions, it should be identified and treated early, with access to care provided for those who can benefit from early intervention. Our approach to early diagnosis and intervention should be similar to that of cancer and other critical diseases, where time is of the essence.
Alzheimer’s is a complex, progressive disease.
Patient-guided policy-making: Policies must be shaped by the experiences of those directly affected by the disease and health-care practitioners on the frontlines, guided by research. Listening to patients and their care partners provides essential insights into what is working and where the gaps are. This would ensure care strategies are grounded in the realities of those who live with dementia every day.
As Canada’s population ages, our health-care system must adapt swiftly to meet the rising demand for comprehensive care and change the narrative around Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Instead of accepting the status quo, we must bravely champion new treatments and approaches that can provide more time with loved ones.
Older adults with cognitive decline deserve more than just sympathy – they deserve action. Prioritizing Alzheimer’s care isn’t just a health issue; it’s a societal imperative informed by research. By investing in early detection, expanding access to innovative treatments and crafting policies informed by patient experiences, we can reshape the future of Alzheimer’s care in Canada.
To those who ask, “Can we afford to make these changes?” The answer is yes – we can’t afford not to.
