To mark Alzheimer’s awareness month, Heather Cooke, Manager of Research and Knowledge Mobilization at the Alzheimer’s Soceity of B.C. spoke with the program about recent developments in Alzheimer’s treatment.
“We still see this prevalence of stigma, and that can be stigma from others, but it can also be self-stigma,” she said. “We know that silence and stigma can delay diagnosis. It can limit access to support and it can worsen outcomes for people living with dementia and their care partners.”
Cooke cited a Leger poll which found that around one in four Canadians would prefer not to know if they had dementia. She says that these days, new treatments are coming online to combat the progression of the disease.
“For example, back in October…Health Canada issued a conditional approval for Lacanemab, which is kind of the first new treatment in a couple of decades to address, to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.”
She says the drug isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s, and that current studies suggest the drug slowed the progression of the disease by about 10 to 12 months over a 4 year period. Decisions about potential coverage from provincial and extended health plans are likely still several months away. In the U.S. the drug costs around $26,000(U.S.).
Cooke also spoke about side effects, the administration of the drug, and the roadmap to receiving a diagnosis. Listen to the full conversation to learn more.
Resources:
Alzheimer’s Society of B.C. Website: https://alzheimer.ca/bc/en
Healthlink B.C. Alzheimer’s disease information: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthwise/alzheimers-disease
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