Quebec woman among first in Canada to receive newly approved Alzheimer’s drug

A woman in Longueil is among the first in Canada to receive a newly approved drug designed to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

A woman in Longueil, on Montreal’s South Shore, is among the first in Canada to receive a newly approved drug designed to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Nathalie Allaire was 54 years old when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

“[It was] a big shock,” Allaire told CTV News.

Since her diagnosis, Allaire says she has stopped working, can no longer drive, and increasingly relies on the support of her husband, Marc-André Lefebvre.

“We didn’t know what to do or how to deal with this,” said Lefebvre.

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Now at 56, Allaire has begun treatment with Lecanemab, a monoclonal antibody that removes harmful amyloid plaque from the brain. The medication was approved by Health Canada in October 2025.

The treatment is intended to slow cognitive decline by 30 per cent in patients diagnosed early.

Allaire says she will have to do regular infusions over an 18-month period.

Neurologist Dr. Paolo Vitali says the treatment does not cure Alzheimer’s but can help patients maintain independence for longer.

“They have prolonged autonomy for about one year compared to non-treated individuals,” he said.

According to national data, the number of Canadians living with dementia is expected to more than double by 2050.

While the drug has been approved by Health Canada, it hasn’t yet received a funding recommendation from the Canada Drug Administration.

Provincial health agencies across the country have yet to provide coverage for Lecanemab.

“Our population is getting older and older,” said Vitali. “We are expecting more prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in our population.”

For Allaire and her husband, the treatment represents something they say is priceless: more time together.

“It means maybe we will take a fantastic trip one day,” said Lefebvre.

“Maybe we will see a beautiful sunset. Maybe we will witness the birth of our grandchildren.”

With files from Adrian Ghobrial