Alzheimer’s disease should be an urgent health-care priority because it robs individuals of their autonomy, dignity and quality of life and takes a mental, physical and financial toll on the individual and their families, according to Dr. Sara Mitchell, a cognitive neurologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
Speaking during a session supported by Eisai Canada at Benefits Canada’s 2025 Chronic Disease at Work conference, she noted dementia affects more than 650,000 Canadians, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for up to 80 per cent of all diagnoses. In addition, the number of diagnoses continues to grow alongside the aging population.
However, there’s a misconception that dementia is a normal part of aging, which prevents people from getting proper care, explained Dr. Mitchell. Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia are caused by abnormal proteins getting clogged around brain cells, forcing them to stop working and die off and creating shrinkage in the brain.
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The goal of treating early Alzheimer’s disease is to give patients more time to be independent, reduce progression to further stages of the disease, preserve their quality of life and reduce the burden on caregivers, she added.
The health-care system and out-of-pocket caregiver costs associated with Alzheimer’s disease in Canada were estimated to be more than $10 billion in 2016 and are forecasted to increase to $16.6 billion by 2031.
Patients with severe dementia tend to incur the most costs and financial burden to the system, said Dr. Mitchell. “It becomes critical to identify these patients early on and intervene to try and delay — and ultimately prevent — progression to later stages of the disease where financial burdens are so high.”
There are 350,000 caregivers for people with dementia in Canada, with projections expected to grow 188 per cent by 2050. This affects the working population, she noted, through time-off requirements due to caregiving demands, cutting back working hours, giving up working and retiring early.
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The disease also affects the working population through young onset Alzheimer’s, when symptoms develop before the age of 65. This is associated with a unique set of challenges, including lack of awareness, workplace accommodations and family obligations, said Dr. Mitchell.
“It’s often only in hindsight when a person gets diagnosed by a health-care professional that people can see that these symptoms started much earlier.”
A disease-modifying therapy is on the horizon for early Alzheimer’s disease, she said, noting this will need to be prioritized when it becomes available so patients have access to the care they need.
Read more coverage of the 2025 Chronic Disease at Work conference.