Alzheimer Society Pushing For National Strategy

The Alzheimer’s Society continues to press for a national dementia strategy.
It was hoping the Council of Federation meeting in Charlottetown would take the next step in developing that plan.
The Society’s Mimi Lowi-Young says Canada needs to be prepared to handle an expected growth in those who will be effected.
She says the risk of the disease doubles every 5-years among those over the age of 65.
There are 747,000 people suffering from the disease and it could hit $4-million in the next 20-years.
Lowi-Young says she’s pleased the Council continues to make early diagnosis and treatment a priority, but more needs to be done.
The Society would like to see the start of a working group that brings together researchers, health professionals, government, patients and families in helping create the national strategy.