The Alzheimer Society of Ontario (ASO) said it's encouraged by Health Canada’s acceptance of three biomarker tests developed by Roche Diagnostics to identify the disease. .“With over 275,000 Ontarians living with dementia today — and three times that number within the next 30 years — Ontario needs new and innovative options for detecting and diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease,” said ASO CEO Cathy Barrick in a Thursday press release. .“We hope today’s approval marks the beginning of scientific breakthroughs leading to timely, reliable, inexpensive, and less invasive diagnostic options.”.The release said the tests are an additional, less costly option for healthcare providers and families to gain information and make advanced care decisions with more certainty. .It said the success gave Ontario families hope they will have access to multiple treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease soon. However, Ontario is not ready. .Barrick concluded by saying researchers and industry “have done their part, and ground-breaking detection and treatment options will soon be coming to market.” She added it's “now up to provincial and territorial governments to not only fund these breakthrough products, but prepare for their arrival.” .“Ministries of Health across the country must act now to update their standards, practices, and billing codes so we are ready to take advantage of new technologies as soon as they become available,” she said. .The ASO said May 5 it was pleased following the release of positive phase three clinical results for donanemab — a drug developed to slow Alzheimer’s disease progression at early stages. .READ MORE: Ontario Alzheimer’s group praises promising treatment for disease.“Today’s positive result give us hope that this may soon change,” said Barrick. .“Our federal and provincial governments must get to work immediately to prepare for the arrival of new treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease.”
