TORONTO , Sept. 22, 2022 /CNW/ – Research from the University of Southern California released yesterday on World Alzheimer’s Day found that Ontario could save up to $9.9 billion in long-term care costs over 20 years with a treatment disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer’s — but today, Ontario is unable to benefit from any Health Canada-approved treatment. “Our findings give cause for both hope and concern,” said Dr. Soeren Mattke, an expert in innovative care for chronic diseases and lead researcher of the study. “Hopeful, because a cure for Alzheimer’s disease has the potential to fundamentally change the way Ontario cares for seniors living with dementia. However, concern because the province is clearly behind its international peers in preparing for this discovery.” There is no prevention, treatment or disease-slowing treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia in Ontario and worldwide, approved for use in Canada. Currently, there are four drugs approved by Health Canada: three are publicly funded in Ontario, but each of them treats Alzheimer’s symptoms in the dementia stage and does not treat the early symptoms or slow progression of the disease itself. While non-pharmacological approaches to dementia, such as exercise, cognitive engagement and social interaction, may provide benefits to the brain, they do not replace the need for disease-modifying drugs for Alzheimer’s disease. In June 2021 the United States became the first jurisdiction in the world to approve a disease-modifying pharmacological treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Several disease-modifying drugs are in various stages of review in Canada, and Ontario is potentially years — not decades — away from its first disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. “The more than 260,000 Ontarians living with dementia today, and their families, are watching closely for news of a potential cure,” said Cathy Barrick, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Ontario. “There is an expectation among families that the provincial and federal governments are working together to prepare for the approval and implementation of a disease-modifying treatment. Hope will quickly turn to despair and anger.” Research findings show Ontario will spend $27.8 billion between 2023 and 2043 on alternative level of care (ALC) and long-term care (LTC) costs related to people living with dementia. With the theoretical approval of a disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s disease in 2023, that cost would drop by $6.1 billion, a 22% reduction over 20 years. If, however, Ontario removed all restrictions on identifying and diagnosing dementia cases, the province would save an additional $3.8 billion over the same time period for a total savings of $9.9 billion. “Treatments that are currently in late development, and for which approvals are pending, should be started when people are still in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease,” explained Dr. Sharon Cohen, a neurologist and the Program’s medical director. Memory of Toronto. “The ability to detect and diagnose Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages is critical in order to reap the benefit of upcoming treatments. However, today, most Ontarians living with Alzheimer’s disease are diagnosed late — after several years of symptoms, inaccurately or not at all The status quo for diagnosing this disease is neither timely nor accurate and will require substantial revision before the affected population can benefit from breakthrough treatments.” According to findings* earlier this year, Canada is projected to have the longest wait times for a dementia diagnosis of any G7 country. With the introduction of a disease-modifying treatment, wait times for a diagnosis will peak at more than seven and a half years by 2029 — longer than the life expectancy of many Ontarians concerned about dementia today. That wait time would mean the average Ontarian would not be able to access a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. The harsh reality: by the time they receive a diagnosis, the disease will almost certainly have progressed to a point where treatment is no longer effective. “This research is an early warning,” Ms Barrick continued. “Cure is coming. Ontario is not ready.” The full study is available at:
About the Alzheimer Society The Alzheimer’s Society is a federation of 26 frontline community support service providers, working in every community across Ontario. We supported more than 95,000 customers last year, including both care partners and people living with dementia. We provide education and training to doctors and other health professionals, as well as the general public, and work to reduce the stigma that is too often associated with dementia. As a health care provider, we offer system navigation, care partner respites, adult day programs, therapeutic recreation, and more at little or, for almost all of our programs, no cost to families. With hundreds of staff and thousands of volunteers we seek to alleviate the personal and societal consequences of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia and advance research for a cure.

  • Mattke S, Wang M. Why will Canada have the longest wait times for Alzheimer’s disease treatment among G7 countries? Canadian health policy. 2022 (JAN) doi: Representatives of the Alzheimer Society and USC researchers are available for comment on the study results in English and French. Revelation The study’s findings were double-blind peer-reviewed and published in the Canadian Health Policy Journal. The study was funded by a contract with the Alzheimer Society of Ontario, thanks to the generous support of an individual donor. Alzheimer Society staff reviewed and provided feedback on a draft of the study, but neither the Society nor the donor had any influence on the methodology or findings of the study. The authors had full control over the design, analysis, final manuscript and decision to submit for publication. SOURCE Alzheimer Society of Ontario For more information: Media Contact: Beth Merrick, ZAZOU Communications, email protected 473-9881