January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in Canada. With new advances in diagnosing and treating the disease, clinicians and researchers are cautiously optimistic that they are on the verge of breakthroughs in treating its causes and improving symptom management. At the same time, we are still seeing a rising epidemic of dementia in Canada, and caregivers and families continue to struggle under the burden.

Two years ago, in an AAE blog, we looked at the Canadian profile for dementia. In their Landmark Study (2022), the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada described several subtypes of dementia, with 60 to 70% being Alzheimer’s. About two-thirds more women are affected by Alzheimer’s than men. More than 600,000 Canadians are currently living with dementia. By 2030, that number will almost double and is predicted to be over one million. By 2050, the numbers will nearly triple to 1.7 million Canadians living with dementia. [1]

The dementia epidemic is compounded by the fact that the Ontario Medical Association recently estimated that 50% of dementias go undiagnosed, and combined with the health human resources issues we are currently facing, patients and their families are not accessing drug therapies to delay the disease or adequately planning for the integrated supportive care that will be required. Recent reports estimate that the number of Canadians without access to primary care physicians or nurse practitioners has soared to 6.5 million.[2]

There are an estimated 57 million people worldwide living with dementia, and this number is predicted to grow to 150 million by 2050. While there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s, some drugs and lifestyle changes can help people cope with the disease, especially in the early stages. There is cautious optimism among clinicians and researchers who believe they are on the verge of some breakthroughs in treating the causes of the disease and improving symptom management.

The following are the eight most promising breakthroughs identified by the World Economic Forum’s Centre for Health and Healthcare in 2025  [3]:

1. The ADHD link

A small study at the University of Geneva has triggered further research into a possible link between “the brain make-up of people with ADHD” and that of “old age-related dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease”. They found that “the ADHD adults had more iron in certain regions of their brain, along with higher levels of neurofilaments in their blood, both of which are markers for dementia and Alzheimer’s”. Further research is needed to determine if a reduction of iron levels in the brain of a person with ADHD could reduce the likelihood of developing dementias like Alzheimer’s later in life.

2. Women are more susceptible to Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s is more common in women than in men. Recent research has pointed to menopause and declining estrogen levels as a possible factor, in addition to the fact that women tend to live longer than men.  Another study using mostly US data “found that synaptic dysfunction and elevated tau – a toxic protein in the brain – were more prevalent in menopausal women who were not on hormone therapy…” These factors contribute to cognitive decline and exacerbate Alzheimer’s. The authors point out that interventions in hormonal and synaptic health could prevent or delay Alzheimer’s in women.

3. Breakthrough drugs

The first drugs have entered the market to tackle the underlying cause of Alzheimer’s. Donanemab and lecanemab both block harmful proteins in the brain and can slow decline if given at an early stage. Lecanemab has been approved for use in Canada in addition to drugs that address symptom management.[4]

The authors noted there are “over 120 drugs for Alzheimer’s currently at the trial stage, so the possibility of finding a cure is not out of reach”.

4. New tests for Alzheimer’s

A new blood test has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help identify early Alzheimer’s and determine if amyloid plaques are present.

“There has also been a recent UK breakthrough in testing for Alzheimer’s risk. Scientists at the University of Bath have developed a three-minute at-home memory test called “Fastball”. It uses an electroencephalogram (EEG) to record brain activity as a person watches a stream of images, some of which are repeated. While not a predictor of Alzheimer’s on its own, it does detect mild cognitive impairment, sometimes a precursor to Alzheimer’s and other diseases.

5. Herpes and Alzheimer’s

Scientists have discovered “a link between herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), the virus that causes cold sores, and the development of Alzheimer’s. HSV-1 often lies dormant and undetected in the body’s nervous system and can trigger the aforementioned amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s”. While the study is small, the results are significant.

6. AI can predict Alzheimer’s

Two studies have demonstrated how artificial intelligence (AI) can predict the onset of Alzheimer’s. “Researchers at the University of California created a machine learning model that can predict the disease up to seven years before any symptoms appear… accurate up to 72% of the time. Risk factors identified for both men and women were hypertension, high cholesterol, and vitamin D insufficiency.  Osteoporosis was a predictor for women, while erectile dysfunction and an enlarged prostate were predictors for men.

7. Is a person’s immune system to blame?

Studies are exploring “the possibility that Alzheimer’s is at least partly caused by the immune system trying – and failing – to fix damage to the brain. Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine… discovered that an immune molecule called STING is responsible for the plaques and tangles that contribute to Alzheimer’s – and that by blocking this molecule, mental decline is avoided, at least in the case of lab mice”.

8. How implants could help

“Future solutions include implants in the brain to correct faulty signals. InBrain, one of the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Technology Pioneers, has developed an ultra-thin graphene implant that can detect neural signals and also send out electrical pulses to stimulate a targeted response. It’s initially being used to help people with Parkinson’s, but once established in this field, the plan is to develop it further for conditions including dementia and Alzheimer’s”.

In summary, the reality is that we are facing a rising epidemic in Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Health human resources cannot keep up with the ever-increasing demand for dementia diagnosis and care, and Canadians are only beginning to realize the extent of the crisis. While there is cautious optimism among clinicians and researchers with new advances in diagnosing and treating dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, Canadians and their caregivers continue to struggle under the burden of caring for their loved ones. As family members and planning advisors, one of the first steps we can take is to educate ourselves and our clients on the realities of this epidemic and the necessity for personalized care planning and management.

[1] https://alzheimer.ca/en/research/reports-dementia/landmark-study-report-1-path-forward

[2] https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-popuation-booming-family-doctor-access-1.7087794

[3] https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/06/recent-breakthroughs-fight-against-alzheimers-disease/

[4] https://alzheimer.ca/en/about-dementia/dementia-treatment-options-developments/medications-for-alzheimers