More than 70,000 British Columbians are living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, and nearly 10,000 of those individuals are under the age of 65.
January is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and Ida Chong, minister of science and universities, is encouraging British Columbians to learn more about the disease.
“Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia — with the loss of intellectual and social abilities severe enough to interfere with daily functioning,” Chong says. “One of the most recent research breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s has been achieved right here in British Columbia.”
She says researchers at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute have discovered the same genetic mechanism that destroys brain cells in people with Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease — providing a potential new target for drugs that could forestall dementia in people with either condition.
“This is welcome news and a major step forward in finding new ways to treat this devastating disease,” she says. “The Province of British Columbia wishes to recognize the ground-breaking work being undertaken by these researchers and also the role played by the Alzheimer Society of B.C. in educating British Columbians and supporting people with Alzheimer’s.
“Together with other researchers and support organizations throughout Canada, these dedicated British Columbians are striving to improve the lives of those who suffer from this heart-breaking disease and ease the many challenges faced by their families.”