This week, a strategic roadmap to help to the nation’s health care system cope with the impending public health crisis caused Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia will be published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. The plan aims to link the latest scientific findings with clinical care and bring together patients, families, scientists, pharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies, and advocacy organizations behind a common set of prioritized goals. The consensus document is the outcome of a June meeting of leading Alzheimer’s researchers, advocates and clinicians, who gathered as part of the Marian S. Ware Alzheimer Program at the University of Pennsylvania.
Today, 5.4 million people are living with the disease, and more than 15 million Americans are caring for persons with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured, or even slowed.
“Alzheimer’s is an enormous and complex disease, and we believe that creative thinking, repurposing of existing funds, vigilance in reducing waste, and a constant focus on cost effectiveness will help make these recommendations a much-needed reality,” said John Trojanowski, MD, PhD, senior author and director of the Penn Alzheimer’s Disease Core Center.
“The diverse perspectives collected in this report provide constructive, ethical, cost-effective guidance for policymakers,” said second author Jason Karlawish, MD, associate director of the Penn Memory Center. “The recommendations serve as a clear roadmap to bring caregivers, researchers, clinicians, and advocacy groups together and provide them much-needed support now and in the future.”