First-of-its-Kind Study Shows the Substantial Economic Burden of Early Stage Alzheimer’s on Patients, Caregivers and Society

• Costs are considerable for patients with even mild cognitive impairment and continue to increase as cognitive function declines
• Caregiving costs are the largest fraction (45%) of costs for patients who have progressed to early stage dementia
• GERAS-US study is co-authored by ADDF Founding Executive Director and Chief Science Officer Howard Fillit, MD

A first-of-its kind study shows a substantial economic impact of early stages of Alzheimer’s on patients and families—$2,816 per month in direct medical care and informal caregiver costs for those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and $4,243 per month for patients who have progressed to mild dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the costliest conditions in the United States, and the only one among the top six diseases affecting Americans with no treatment to prevent, cure or slow it. The GERAS-US study was published on May 19, 2020 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

“The GERAS-US results show that even the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s —even before an Alzheimer’s diagnosis has usually been made — are more costly than we thought,” said study co-author Howard Fillit, MD, Founding Executive Director and Chief Science Office of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. “Early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is more critical than ever because it will enable physicians to better manage patients’ early medical needs and give patients and caregivers time to plan for future care, including making choices about enrolling in clinical trials.”

In patients with MCI, the largest proportion of overall costs, nearly 40%, is for direct medical care. But as patients progress to have mild dementia, costs shoot up by more than $1,400 per month and there is a dramatic shift in the driver of overall costs with 45% dedicated to caregiver support. Caregivers spend an average of 207 hours a month caring for someone with mild dementia compared with a still substantial 84 hours for someone with MCI.

Caregivers perform essential activities such as shopping, cooking, cleaning, laundry, assisting with medication, and supervision of their loved one. More than 1 in 5 Americans is currently caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia, according to AARP. AARP also reports that in addition to caring for their loved one, 6 in 10 caregivers are also working outside the home.

“The costs defined in this study highlight the tremendous challenges faced by Alzheimer’s caregivers,” said Dr. Fillit. “ADDF is working hard to help them and the patients they care for by speeding the discovery of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer’s, and also by advancing bold ideas for easier, more accurate and earlier Alzheimer’s Diagnosis through our Diagnostics Accelerator program.”

Eli Lilly & Company is the sole sponsor and funder for this study.