The idea of seeing a loved one decline and lose their ability to recall their most treasured memories is devastating. However, it is a fact of life for an increasing number of people. A group of experts on population health convened by the Alzheimer Society of Canada in 2015 estimated that nearly one million Canadians will have Alzheimer’s disease in 2031.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and no treatment has yet been found, despite the best efforts of researchers. This is what drives the massive funding of clinical trials searching for a way to stop the disease. Despite hundreds of drug trials, however, there have been no new treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 2003. It’s clear that a better understanding of the disease is needed, as well as a re-evaluation of how the treatment is developed.