Peel hospital becomes first in Canada to offer Alzheimer's-slowing drug infusions

This month, the William Osler Health System in Mississauga became the first community hospital in Canada to offer lecanemab infusions—a drug that slows down the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

"For the first time, we now have therapies that can slow down the progression of the disease," explains Dr. Sudip Saha, division head and medical director for senior's health at William Osler. "If you take the infusions as prescribed, you would be able to maintain and preserve function for a lot longer than if you didn't."

Clinical studies show that up to 81 percent of patients did not progress to more serious stages of Alzheimer's after four years of treatment, enabling them to maintain their memories and cognitive function much longer. The infusion is typically administered once every two weeks—initially in the hospital and then in the community—with regular MRIs, monitoring, and testing conducted at the hospital.

The drug is only available to patients who meet a very specific list of criteria, including a diagnosis in the early stages of Alzheimer's. Early diagnosis is crucial: the earlier treatment begins, the better the outcomes. About half a million Canadians are living with dementia, and Dr. Saha notes that the prevalence of dementia in the Region of Peel is expected to triple by 2050.

"As a conservation science-based organization, our responsibility is to provide cutting-edge treatments to this vulnerable population at Osler, and that's what we're looking to do," he said. The treatment costs approximately $37,000 in drug costs, though the source does not clarify whether that is covered by insurance or provincial health plans.