Investigating the Benefits of Early Diagnosis

For the 25,000 Canadians who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease every year, an earlier diagnosis can help them access the right treatment and plan for the future before their symptoms worsen.

Currently, physicians rely on traditional imaging tests and observing signs and symptoms to diagnose Alzheimer’s. For individuals with cognitive difficulties, measuring the proteins in their cerebrospinal fluid (a.k.a. biomarkers) has been shown to help identify the underlying disease.

A new study based at St. Paul’s Hospital is investigating how Alzheimer’s biomarker testing affects individuals and their families, medical decision-making and health care costs.