To mark Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, the Alzheimer Society of Toronto and the Toronto Dementia Research Alliance (TDRA) invite you to a virtual panel focused on new disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for Alzheimer’s disease in Canada, including recently approved treatments such as lecanemab.
Summary:
Most current treatments for Alzheimer’s disease help manage symptoms but do not slow the disease itself. Disease-modifying therapies are different. They aim to slow the disease by targeting changes in the brain, such as the buildup of amyloid.
These treatments bring new hope, but they also raise important questions. Who may be eligible? What tests are needed? How will people access these treatments in Canada? What benefits and risks should families understand?
During this panel, experts and people with lived experience will discuss:
– What disease-modifying therapies are and how they work
– Who these treatments may be for and how eligibility is decided
– What testing and monitoring are needed
– How access and funding may work across Canada
– What slowing disease progression may look like in daily life
This event will be presented in plain language and will include time for audience questions.
Presented in partnership with the Toronto Dementia Research Alliance and the Alzheimer Society of Toronto.
About the Presenters
Dr. Carmela Tartaglia
Dr. Carmela Tartaglia is a Cognitive Neurologist who cares for people with neurodegenerative diseases. She is Co-Director and Medical Lead of the Toronto Western Hospital Memory Clinic and a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto.
She is also the Executive Director of the Toronto Dementia Research Alliance (TDRA). Dr. Tartaglia has helped lead projects such as the Toronto Cognitive Assessment (TorCA) and research using brain imaging and biomarkers to support earlier and more accurate diagnosis. Her work focuses on improving access to timely and targeted care for people living with cognitive disorders.
Chad Mitchell
Chad Mitchell is a health policy expert and Senior Associate at Global Public Affairs. He has more than 20 years of experience working in Canada’s health system on drug policy, health technology review, and health system planning.
He has held senior leadership roles with the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance and the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH). Chad works with governments and health organizations to support fair access to new treatments across Canada.
Cara Sullivan
Cara is a retired high school English teacher and a member of TDRA’s Lived Experience Advisory Partners Council. She became engaged in Alzheimer’s research in 2016 after supporting a family member as part of a caregiving team, with support from the Alzheimer Society of Toronto and the Alzheimer Society of Grey-Bruce. Cara has participated in several clinical trials with the Toronto Memory Program and CAMH and has a strong interest in risk reduction and brain health. She is currently the study partner for a family member who recently completed two years in the AHEAD Alzheimer’s prevention study at Sunnybrook Hospital.
Paul Lea
Paul is a member of TDRA’s Lived Experience Advisory Partners (LEAP) Council. He experienced a major stroke in 2008 and was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2009. After connecting with the Alzheimer Society of Toronto in 2015, Paul became an active advocate and spokesperson, raising awareness about stigma, prevention, and the need for better supports for people living with dementia. He continues to challenge himself cognitively and has developed effective strategies to adapt to the changes associated with vascular dementia.
