Report Urges Canadian Governments to Accelerate Dementia Diagnosis as New Alzheimer’s Drugs Await Public Access
A new report calls on Canadian governments to speed up dementia diagnosis and treatment access as two newly approved Alzheimer’s therapies, lecanemab and donanemab, await public reimbursement. Current diagnostic delays of 18 to 24 months or longer could render patients ineligible for the drugs, which are only effective in the very early stages of the disease.
Canadians will soon be able to access new drug therapies to treat Alzheimer’s disease, but a new report is calling on governments to accelerate diagnosis and treatment access to ensure patients can benefit from them.
Two new therapies—lecanemab, marketed as Leqembi by Eisai Co. and Biogen, and donanemab, marketed as Kisunla by Eli Lilly—have been approved by Health Canada. The Canada Drug Agency has recommended public reimbursement for lecanemab and issued a positive draft recommendation for donanemab. However, governments must still negotiate prices with manufacturers, and provinces and territories must decide whether to include the drugs in their public plans. These steps could delay public availability by 12 to 18 months.
Alzheimer’s disease affects memory, thinking, and behaviour, and is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive decline. Dementia affects about one per cent of Canadians. The newly approved treatments are only effective and safe in the very early stages of Alzheimer’s. While they can slow cognitive decline, they cannot stop it completely.
The report warns that current diagnostic timelines pose a significant barrier. Depending on location, patients may wait 18 to 24 months or longer for a diagnosis, which could push them past the narrow window of eligibility for these early-stage therapies. Rural areas and lower socioeconomic groups face even greater barriers to accessing the necessary monitoring, MRI scans, and infusion services required for treatment.
To address these challenges, the report sets out seven calls for action. They include securing public reimbursement, funding a comprehensive dementia care pathway, establishing coordinated infrastructure, and expanding early-diagnosis capacity. Stakeholders emphasize the need for a structured system comparable to cancer care, noting that the current lack of a coordinated pathway creates uncertainty and burden for patients.
Provincial and federal governments have pointed to ongoing preparations. Alberta’s government stated it is working with Alberta Precision Laboratories and health professionals to prepare for emerging Alzheimer’s treatments. Ontario cited record investments in dementia care, including $4.1 million to expand access to care supports. At the federal level, the government said it is working to improve prevention, care, and support for dementia and Alzheimer’s, aided by the Ministerial Advisory Board on Dementia.