Disease Areas
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is a progressive neurological illness that impairs thinking and the independence of millions of people worldwide.1 Today more than half a million Canadians2 and 55 million people worldwide have dementia, with 60-70% of cases being AD.3
Alzheimer’s disease is usually diagnosed in people 65 years and older, but it starts earlier, with subtle neurological changes occurring years or even decades before symptoms appear.1 Many people are experiencing the early, often unrecognized signs of mild cognitive impairment.
Our Approach
Driven by our commitment to patients and our strong business foundation, Biogen remains dedicated to furthering Alzheimer’s disease research and treatment, aiming to help address the unmet needs in this devastating condition, with an emphasis on early-stage disease.
Innovative Research
We understand how incredibly challenging it is to treat this complex condition, which is why we will never stop innovating for patients, families and providers in the Alzheimer’s community. We are currently conducting clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of investigational therapies in our pipeline, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease
As they get older, many people may notice changes in memory and thinking abilities. At first, these changes may be so subtle that they’re easy to explain as normal aging — and they may be. However, it’s also possible that they’re the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Clinical Trials
We are currently conducting clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of therapies in our pipeline, including investigational therapies for Alzheimer's disease.
Facts and Figures
60-70%
Estimated number of dementia cases caused by Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia.3
> 500K
Canadians2 and 55 million people worldwide live with dementia, with nearly 10 million new cases every year.3
#1
Leading cause of disability among Canadians over 65 (dementia).4
- Johns Hopkins University, “Alzheimer’s Disease.” Alzheimer’s Disease, Johns Hopkins University. Accessed on June 19, 2023, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/alzheimers-disease.
- Change minds | Alzheimer Society of Canada. Accessed on April 5, 2023.
- World Health Organization, “Dementia.” Fact Sheet Dementia, World Health Organization, Accessed on April 5, 2023, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia
- Canadian Nurses Association. Dementia in Canada: Recommendations to support care for Canada's aging population. Brief prepared for the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology 2016. Updated March 2016. Available at: https://www.cna-aiic.ca/~/media/cna/page-content/pdf-en/dementia-in-canada_recommendations-to-support-care-for-canadas-aging-population.pdf.