January 9, 2026
Today, a clinical team in the Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program has taken the next step in advancing dementia care by performing Canada’s first patient infusion of lecanemab, a disease-modifying therapy used to treat mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease.
The therapy was recently approved by Health Canada, after having shown to slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline by an average of 30 per cent compared to a control group in clinical trials. Lecanemab is designed to bind to damaging forms of amyloid in the brain, thus reducing amyloid plaque burden. This means that the therapy is targeting one of the main proteins associated with the development of the disease, unlike current therapies which focus on managing specific symptoms caused by Alzheimer’s disease.
Having completed the first infusion of the therapy, the team is working to develop a phased, community-integrated referral and care pathway to ensure patients eligible for the treatment are directed to the proper resources in a timely manner.
“We’re excited to be entering into a new era of dementia treatment and work towards getting our patients more precise treatments,” explains Dr. Sara Mitchell, recently appointed Deputy Chief of the Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program and Cognitive Neurologist at Sunnybrook. “We are shifting focus from symptom management, to targeting one of the root causes of the disease, with the goal of keeping people cognitively healthy and independent for longer.”
By collaborating with partners, Sunnybrook is improving community and specialized care, and optimizing capacity and flow with innovative models of care across the hospital. The Barzakay Brain Health Clinic, a state-of-the-art space within Sunnybrook’s Garry Hurvitz Brain Sciences Centre, brings together interprofessional teams and specialists under one roof, creating a more personalized experience tailored to the unique needs of each patient.
“An integrated approach to care emphasizes collaboration and efficiency, prioritizing a patient-centred experience,” adds Carol Robinson, Patient Care Manager of the Barzakay Brain Health Clinic. “These types of spaces and care models are crucial in connecting patients with the care that is right for them.”
The first patient received their first infusion of lecanemab at Sunnybrook, after which patients will be referred to community infusion centres to receive the therapy, while still having access to the comprehensive care and specialists in Barzakay Brain Health Clinic required for their care. A community-integrated care model offers a more patient-centred experience, bringing care closer to home for patients that live further from the hospital.
Dementia is a rising concern in Canada and around the world, and it is estimated that within the next five years more than 1 million people in Canada will be living with some form of dementia. The cognitive decline caused by dementia and Alzheimer’s disease has a significant impact on everyday life. People with dementia will begin to experience difficultly performing usual tasks and activities, and require more and more support from caregivers and specialists as the disease progresses. The goal of medications like lecanemab, is to slow down this progression and maintain independence for longer.
Currently, lecanemab is not funded or reimbursed by provincial health insurance plans or the public health care system in Canada, and as such is only available through self-payment.
The Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program is committed to advancing care for the world’s most debilitating brain disorders, like Alzheimer’s disease. The introduction of disease-modifying therapies is ushering in a new era of dementia care, and through collaborative teams and care models, Sunnybrook is following through on its commitment to drive innovation in personalized and precise treatment.
Media contact:
Anna McClellan
Communications Advisor, Public Affairs
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
[email protected]
Frequently asked questions
Lecanemab is a Health Canada approved therapy used to treat mild memory or thinking problems (mild cognitive impairment) or mild dementia caused by Alzheimer’s’ disease. It is a type of medicine called a disease modifying therapy (DMT), a class of drug that works to slow down the changes in the brain that cause symptoms to get worse over time.
Lecanemab is given intravenously (IV) every two weeks. After approximately 18 months of therapy, the schedule may be changed to once every four (4) weeks, or it may be stopped earlier if needed.
There are strict eligibility requirements for those who can receive lecanemab. It is estimated that only around 10 per cent of patients assessed for cognitive impairment will meet criteria for the therapy. Your doctor will decide if you qualify based on your diagnosis, medical history and test results (blood and imaging tests).
There are three core eligibility components for lecanemab treatment:
- Stage of disease: Patients must have mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease (i.e., early Alzheimer’s dementia).
- Genotype: Patients who are homozygous carriers of the APOE ε4 gene (two copies) are contraindicated due to a significantly higher risk of serious side effects, including amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA).
- Diagnostic confirmation: Amyloid pathology must be confirmed via PET or CSF testing, and patients must have a recent baseline MRI prior to treatment initiation.
Certain image findings, use of certain medications or serious medical comorbidities may disqualify patients from being eligible to receive the treatment.
It is important for patients to understand that lecanemab has a risk of serious side effects know as amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), which can include brain swelling, bleeding in the brain. Eligible patients require close medical monitoring including regular MRI scans to ensure safety throughout treatment.
At this time, lecanemab is only available through self-payment (out-of-pocket), as it is not currently funded or reimbursed through public drug programs or public health care system in Canada. This means that, for now, people who qualify for the medication must pay for it themselves.
If a Sunnybrook patient is determined to be eligible to receive lecanemab, they will be referred by their Sunnybrook physician to a patient support program who will link them to a community infusion centre to receive the treatment closer to home.
If you are a Sunnybrook patient and want to learn more about receiving lecanemab treatment, please contact [email protected].
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