Testimonials

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Very caring, courteous, & professional staff. They took care of my family from the moment we walked in. 
The aftercare & our follow-up is great & I would highly recommend the clinic to any family dealing with memory/Alzheimer’s issues. 

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From my first contact with Kristina to meeting Dr. Bergeron and Dr. Moreau later on, the compassion demonstrated by them sets this clinic apart from the rest. You are not received as just a patient, but rather as someone’s parent, sibling, or often grandparent. The highly qualified nurses, physicians, and scientists at the clinic understand the impact of AD on patients and their families. In all my interactions with the clinic, they have shown their willingness to go above and beyond to provide any help they can. While AD is still a terrible disease and the upward trend is alarming, I have full confidence in OMC’s capability to bring in meaningful AD treatment, given the recent progress made.  

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Between 2016 and 2018, I witnessed two of my friends lose their mothers to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). At that time, I didn’t think much about the possible connection between Alzheimer’s and my own mother. She was in her late 60s and had been charged with establishing an obstetrics department in a new hospital, including leading all responsibilities from ordering medical equipment to recruiting and training young obstetricians. However, the pandemic changed everything, and in October 2021, I convinced her to retire and move to Ottawa, where she has been living with me ever since.  

Aside from well-controlled diabetes, my mom has maintained great physical health and seems cognitively sharp. But now that we live under the same roof, I have started noticing small changes in her cognitive ability. For example, she responds to incoming traffic at a leisurely pace, and she has accidentally left the stove on a few times. I became increasingly concerned when she seemed indifferent or unaware of these behaviors. One month after her 72nd birthday, I took her to the Ottawa Memory Clinic (OMC) for genetic testing. The test revealed that she carries one APOE e4 gene, which indicates a higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s. This result gives me greater reason to pay close attention to her cognitive abilities and on developments related to Alzheimer’s treatment. 

The drug development landscape for AD is finally showing signs of progress. After nearly two decades of stagnation, the FDA approved two new drugs, in 2021 and 2023, respectively, to slow cognitive decline in people living with Alzheimer’s. Several drugs in the clinical trial stage have also shown promising results. One small molecule drug that I have personally researched extensively demonstrated an unprecedented 47% cognitive improvement in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s, rather than just slowing cognitive decline, in its phase 2 clinical trial.  Its result indicate mild patients responded better than patients with moderate AD. I am optimistic that this drug will complete its phase 3 trial successfully and become available to my mom and other patients in need. These recent developments in AD drug bring hope to those affected by the disease and their families. 

Reflecting on the last 30 years, the progress made in cancer treatment clearly demonstrates the crucial role of early detection and diagnosis. Although I was able to observe changes in my mom’s cognitive ability due to an unorthodox living arrangement, it is not feasible for most people. This is where detection technology, such as genetic testing, comes into play. For instance, if you carry the APOE e4 gene along with other risk factors, like type 2 diabetes and sleep issues, your Alzheimer’s alarm threshold should be lower than for those carrying the APOE e2/e3 gene. Knowing this information is crucial since it may take 10 years for the disease to manifest clinically. Early detection is key when it comes to AD. If you have a family history of Alzheimer’s or other risk factors, I strongly encourage you to consider genetic testing. Knowing your risk can help you take proactive steps to maintain cognitive health, such as making lifestyle changes, participating in clinical trials, and exploring treatment options. Don’t wait until symptoms appear; educate yourself with the latest progress and available early detection and take control of your health today. 

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