Advances in diagnosis bring new hope: Alzheimer Society Huron Perth to host Fall Dementia Education Night

The Alzheimer Society Huron Perth is inviting the community to gather online for its annual Fall Dementia Education Night on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.

The free virtual event, hosted on Zoom, will feature returning guest speaker Dr. Sharon Cohen, director of the Toronto Memory Program, presenting “What’s New in Alzheimer’s Diagnosis and Treatment.”

“This year’s theme, we’re focusing on diagnosis partly because the speaker that we have, Dr. Sharon Cohen, is from the Toronto Memory Program – one of the leading research groups looking into advancements in diagnosis,” said Jeanette Sears, the Alzheimer Society’s public education coordinator. “Right now is a really exciting time in the area of diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease and dementias – all types of dementia. Everybody would absolutely love to find a cure. We will get there. In the meantime, we are hoping that improved diagnosis can lead to better treatment and improved research towards a cure.”

Sears said diagnosis has traditionally relied on what doctors observe or what care partners describe, but new approaches could change that.

“What they’re hoping is that we’ll be able to use more solid biomarkers in the future,” she said. “That will likely include blood tests, iris scans or cheek swabs.”

Christy Bannerman, another public education coordinator with the society, noted the Toronto Memory Program was approved this January to begin using blood testing for diagnosis.

“That was a really significant thing,” she said. “A blood test is so much more simple. It can be done anywhere, and that makes testing so much more accessible.”

For rural communities, this progress is especially important.

“If that testing is based on blood testing or cheek swabbing, that’s really exciting for us,” Bannerman added. “It might eliminate the very long waitlist to see a specialist and the intimidating drive to a larger centre. If we can do that in our local clinics, that’s a real step forward.”

Sears believes early diagnosis could also lead to better outcomes.

“If they can diagnose earlier in the disease process, that might affect treatment as well,” she said. “If people are diagnosed earlier and get some of those newer medications earlier, it might change the progression of the disease.”

Both coordinators said past Dementia Nights have left people feeling encouraged.

“We’re working towards the day where we’d love to see a world where there’s a cure to Alzheimer’s and other dementias,” Bannerman said. “Every time we hear from these prominent researchers, we learn a little bit more – it’s almost within reach.”

Registration for the Fall Dementia Education Night is free and open to everyone at www.bit.ly/Dementia-Night2025. For more details on programs and upcoming events, visit www.alzheimer.ca/huronperth.