What is the value of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis?

When it comes to understanding the value of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, it is critical to consider the rapid growth of the world’s aging population. Alzheimer’s disease is imposing increasing pressure on healthcare systems due to its rising prevalence, since as longevity improves, the proportion of individuals susceptible to neurodegenerative conditions grows.1 In the case of Alzheimer’s, the prolonged course of the disease, on average 8 to 10 years, exacerbates the strain on healthcare systems. This is because patients with Alzheimer’s require extensive resources, including ongoing clinical management, caregiver support, and institutional care facilities. 

There are also indirect costs that come with Alzheimer’s disease such as lost productivity and greater dependency on others.2 Both direct and indirect costs intensify the burden on healthcare infrastructure and social services, whilst placing emotional and financial stress on unpaid carers and families. The growing impact of this disease underscores an urgent need for innovative medical technology and pharmaceutical solutions to improve Alzheimer’s diagnosis, treatment, and care.

In this interview, Olivier Gilliéron, Lifecycle Leader Cardiometabolic and Neurology at Roche Diagnostics, shares his thoughts on Alzheimer’s disease and the emerging innovations that are reshaping the patient pathway. He calls for increased collaboration across stakeholders to ensure that new and innovative technologies translate into improved patient care for more people.

Read on healthcaretransformers.com