“In Quebec, we have a demographic curve in terms of the aging of the population which is very significant, so it is the first risk factor,” she indicates in an interview. […] We can’t do it now, imagine in 20 years what it will be like.”
She underlines the scale of the challenges in the context of “a health system that struggles to provide”.
“And for people who don’t have a family doctor, it remains an issue. We are working very hard on this with the government, and the government is not unaware of this,” assures Ms. Grenier.
SEE ALSO | Measles outbreak: vaccination coverage “which is not optimal” in Quebec?
She discusses the need for home support which is essential for people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
The Minister responsible for Seniors, Sonia Bélanger, wants to make home support a priority. She hopes to present a national home support policy during 2025.
The increase in the number of people suffering from a neurocognitive disorder also has an impact on the Quebec economy. “It also has a huge cost in terms of the job market because there must be at least two caregivers per person living with the disease. It has an impact on people in the workplace, who often even have to leave their job to be able to take care of a loved one,” says Ms. Grenier.
“It has an extraordinary economic impact on both the health network and the job market,” she adds.
The benefits of early diagnosis
Ms. Grenier points out that if Alzheimer’s disease is treated early, this greatly improves the chances that the person will retain their cognitive faculties for longer.
“The sooner we know, the less it is too late” is the message from the Quebec Federation of Alzheimer Societies for the month of January, which is Alzheimer’s disease awareness month.
“An early diagnosis is a sure bet to be able to continue your life in the course of the disease and to be in control of your course. Also, to work on maintaining your abilities,” explained the director.
Up to 50% of people living with a neurocognitive disorder are diagnosed at a too advanced stage of the disease.
Among the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease are difficulty retaining new information, temporal or spatial confusion, and having objects misplaced in unusual places.
Fear of being diagnosed with a degenerative disease for which there is not yet a cure is the main reason people do not seek medical attention after early signs appear.
Ms. Grenier indicates that there are medications that allow a better quality of life when the diagnosis is made at the beginning of the disease. Additionally, signs of memory loss or other symptoms may be due to another health problem, such as a vitamin B12 deficiency, making it important to consult a doctor.
