Toronto Memory Program

The phase III trial, called the PrevenTRON study, will investigate whether prescribing a new drug, trontinemab, to participants who have elevated levels of p-tau217 and meet the trial criteria can stop dementia from developing in the first place.

Alzheimer’s trial to test drug on people without symptoms to see if it can be prevented Healthy middle-aged people deemed to be at higher risk of developing condition among those eligible to participate

Why do some people stay cognitively strong despite Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain?

Researchers are studying a fascinating concept called cognitive resilience — why some people can have changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease, such as amyloid plaques and tau tangles, while continuing to maintain their memory and thinking abilities.

Understanding what makes these brains more resilient could help researchers uncover new ways to protect brain health and potentially guide future approaches to Alzheimer’s disease prevention and treatment.

🔗 Read more from UBC about the research into Alzheimer’s resilience:

Unravelling the mystery behind Alzheimer’s resilience Understanding Alzheimer’s resilience could be the key to finding treatment.

Concerned about changes in your memory or thinking — or those of a loved one?

Toronto Memory Program offers free memory testing as a first step to better understand whether a referral for further assessment may be needed or whether there may be suitable research opportunities to consider.

To get started, visit our website and complete the Contact Us form:

Contact Us – Toronto Memory Program Memory Clinic specializing in 's disease & related dementias. Canada’s largest and most experienced site for in Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease does not begin the day memory problems appear.

Research shows that biological changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease can begin many years — sometimes decades — before noticeable symptoms develop. Two of the key changes researchers study are the buildup of amyloid and tau proteins in the brain. These changes can gradually accumulate while a person is still living independently and may feel that their memory is completely normal.

This early stage is often referred to as preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. It is one of the reasons researchers are increasingly focused on prevention: if Alzheimer’s disease can be identified before significant memory and thinking changes occur, could treating it earlier help delay or prevent symptoms?

Newer tools, including specialized brain imaging and blood-based biomarkers, are helping researchers detect these changes earlier than was possible in the past.

Clinical trials are now studying people at different stages of Alzheimer’s disease — including some who have no noticeable cognitive symptoms — to better understand when treatment may have the greatest impact.

The more we learn about the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease, the closer we may get to changing its course before it changes someone’s life.

Could a simple blood test help identify Alzheimer’s risk years before memory symptoms begin?

New research presented at the 2026 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference looked at a blood marker called p-tau217, a protein associated with Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain. Researchers followed nearly 2,700 older adults who had no memory or thinking problems when the study began and found that higher p-tau217 levels were associated with a greater risk of developing cognitive impairment over the following years.

These findings are especially exciting for Alzheimer’s prevention research, where identifying people at increased risk before symptoms appear could one day allow for earlier monitoring and intervention.

🔗 Read more from the Alzheimer’s Association:

Blood Test Predicts Alzheimer's Risk a Decade Early | AAIC A blood test detecting p-tau217, a protein linked to Alzheimer’s, may help predict cognitive impairment in older adults a decade before symptoms appear.

This may look overwhelming, but it represents something very exciting: the breadth of Alzheimer’s disease treatments currently in development.

As of January 1, 2026, this figure maps drugs in clinical trials across Phases 1–3, spanning disease-modifying therapies, biologics, cognitive treatments, and approaches targeting behavioral and neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Each point represents another avenue being explored to improve how Alzheimer’s disease is treated—and a reminder of just how active the research pipeline has become.

Source: Cummings et al., Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions

While there is no cure for dementia, up to 45% of the risks can be attributed to modifiable risk factors such as to***co, alcohol use, social isolation, physical inactivity, air pollution and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including high blood pressure and diabetes.

New WHO guidelines: up to 45% of dementia risk could be prevented or delayed The World Health Organization (WHO) today released updated guidelines on reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, providing countries with evidence-based recommendations to help prevent or delay the onset of dementia across the life course.

A good night's sleep is essential for good health and functioning. It revitalizes the mind and body and prepares you to perform at your best the following day. Researchers define a good night's sleep in terms of quantity (not too little or too much) and quality (falling asleep quickly and staying asleep).

But many people don't get the amount of sleep needed to function at their best, or they spend too much time awake during the night. According to the CDC, more than one-third of adults in the U.S. don't get enough sleep: 14.5% have trouble falling asleep, and 17.8% have trouble staying asleep. Good sleep hygiene can help.

Sleep hygiene: Simple practices for better rest - Harvard Health Discover simple sleep hygiene practices to improve your rest. Learn healthy sleep habits and advice for creating a bedtime routine for better sleep....

Last month, our Medical Director, Dr. Sharon Cohen, joined Maria Shriver to discuss some of the latest breakthroughs in Alzheimer's disease—from advances in diagnosis to emerging treatment options and what they mean for patients and families.

Watch the interview here:

Alzheimer's Breakthrough: New Medicine & Diagnosis with Dr. Sharon Cohen June is Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month and we are celebrating ...

Dr. Sharon Cohen, Medical Director of Toronto Memory Program, joined the shoelace-tying ceremony at the Walk for Alzheimer’s this past weekend in Toronto, helping kick off a day dedicated to raising awareness, supporting families, and advancing the fight against dementia. We are proud to stand alongside our community in support of those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.