Alzheimer’s research has made more progress in the past five years than in the previous three decades, says Dr. Donald Weaver, chemistry professor and senior scientist at the Krembil Research Institute at the University of Toronto.
Weaver shared that message on Sept. 18 at an Alzheimer Society research forum in Winnipeg, co-hosted with Alzheimer Society of Manitoba CEO Erin Crawford. The event also reached audiences in Selkirk, Winkler and Portage la Prairie through livestream viewing parties.
Crawford and Weaver spoke about diagnosis, risk reduction and treatment for Alzheimer’s — a disease that nine people in Manitoba are diagnosed with every day.
“This is a disease that is going in the right direction, and it will continue to go in the right direction if we give it the advocacy that it needs,” Weaver said. “There has been substantial change over the course of the past five years, and the area of diagnosis is the area in which really substantial changes are occurring.”
Weaver highlighted recent studies showing that the amount of tau protein in blood correlates with the level of brain toxins. Treating tau levels has proven effective when detected in the early stages.
He explained that tau proteins begin to clump in the brain, causing the damage that leads to Alzheimer’s disease and eventual symptoms.
“If we can measure the levels of these, then that will be a major step towards our ability to diagnose,” Weaver said. “While this is something that is still unfolding and will become something that is available in the coming years, this is still a huge step forward.”
Weaver cautioned that patients should not be immediately concerned if bloodwork shows high tau levels. To receive a diagnosis, patients need the “whole package” of symptoms — including memory, balance and cognitive problems — supported by bloodwork and medical history.
Although the approval timeline for tau blood testing is still undetermined, Manitobans with a family history of Alzheimer’s can be referred by their family physician for genetic testing and can continue to have their symptoms monitored every six months.
The second part of the forum focused on prevention. Researchers have identified 14 risk factors, and eliminating them can reduce the chance of developing Alzheimer’s by 30 to 40 per cent.
“Brain health is as important as heart health,” Weaver said.
He outlined SHIELD — Sleep, Head injury, Exercise, Learning and Diet — as measures people can take to protect brain health. Getting adequate sleep, preventing head trauma, exercising both body and mind, and eating a balanced diet all contribute to lowering risk.
Weaver also cited strong evidence supporting the shingles vaccine, Shingrix, as a preventative measure for Alzheimer’s. While the precise link is not yet known, researchers believe any illness that causes prolonged inflammation — the body’s natural response to something wrong — contributes to Alzheimer’s progression. Reducing inflammation, therefore, helps reduce risk.
Research is also advancing on treatments aimed at slowing or managing Alzheimer’s. Outside of Canada, two intravenous medications — lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab (Kisunla) — have been approved. Both have shown success in slowing the disease’s progression by targeting markers in the brain.
Weaver explained there will not be a single pill that completely cures Alzheimer’s. Instead, treatment will likely involve a combination of methods, similar to cancer care. He identified four categories of therapy: symptomatic, which relieves symptoms; disease-modifying, which slows progression; restorative, which heals damage; and curative, which aims to eliminate the disease altogether.
“If we let you share your memories with your family for another three, four years — that’s wonderful,” Weaver said.
Weaver emphasized that the future of Alzheimer’s research lies in the hands of young scientists, whose work is building rapidly on recent breakthroughs.
“I am amazed at the progress made within the last five years,” he said. “I can’t wait to see the progress made in the next five.”
For more information, support or resources on Alzheimer’s disease, visit www.alzheimer.mb.ca
