Decision presented by the committee board members: Nicholas Mann & Katelyn Strasser

FUTURE FUNDING FOR ALZHEIMER’S

DISEASE

October 14, 2014MPH 543 Leadership and Organizational Management in HealthcareConcordia University Nebraska

Most common form of dementia

Alters memory, thinking, and behavior

Affects over 5 million Americans

6th leading cause of death in the United States

(Alzheimer’s Association, n.d.)

WHAT IS ALZHEIMER’S?

Unknown how disease process begins

Damage to the brain involves amyloid plaques and tau tangles

Neurons lose function

Brain tissue shrinks

WHAT IS ALZHEIMER’S?

(National Institute on Aging, 2014)

AgeOver 65

GeneticsFamily history

Other causesLinks to cardiovascular disease and diabetes

(CDC, 2014).

RISK FACTORS

Alzheimer’s has seven stagesStage 1: No impairmentStage 2: Very mild cognitive declineStage 3: Mild cognitive declineStage 4: Moderate cognitive declineStage 5: Moderately severe cognitive

declineStage 6: Severe cognitive declineStage 7: Very severe cognitive decline(Alzheimer’s Association, n.d.)

STAGES AND SIGNS

Most expensive disease in the country

Medicare and Medicaid spending

Out-of-pocket costs

(Alzheimer’s Association, n.d.)

COSTS

Burden to caregiversPhysical and emotional strain

DepressionLoss of jobs

Projected future costs to increase Baby Boomer generation ages

(Alzheimer’s Association, n.d.)

COSTS

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitorsApproved to treat early to moderate stagesSupport communication among nerve cellsDelay the progression of symptoms for 6 to 12 months in 50% of cases (Alzheimer’s Association, n.d.)

CURRENT TREATMENTS

Donepezil (Aricept)

Rivastigmine (Exelon) Galantamine (Razadyne)

Donepezil (Aricept): Approved to treat all stages of Alzheimer’s

Rivastigmine (Exelon): Approved to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s

Galantamine (Razadyne): Approved to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s

Benefits: Each has the same mechanism of action-to increase communication among nerve cells.

Side effects: nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and increased frequency of bowel movements.

(Alzheimer’s Association, n.d.)

CURRENT TREATMENTS

We support funding for the three cholinesterase inhibitors.

Our decision is in accordance with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines.

Funding is granted on the basis of other NICE principles

(Alzheimer’s Society, 2014)

FUNDING DECISION

Funding for new drugs other than acetylcholinesterase inhibitorsThese drugs will affect the disease process, not just the symptoms.

“Investing in research now will cost our nation far less than the cost of care for the rising number of Americans who will be affected by Alzheimer’s in coming decades.” –Bill Thies, Ph.D., Senior Scientist in Residence, Alzheimer’s Association.

(Alzheimer’s Associat ion, n.d.)

FUNDING DECISION

Alzheimer’s Associat ion. (n.d.) . Facts and fi gures. Retr ieved from http:/ /www.alz.org/ alzheimers_disease_facts_and_fi gures.asp Alzheimer’s Associat ion. (n.d.) . Seven stages of Alzheimer’s. Retr ieved from http:/ / www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_stages_of_alzheimers.aspAlzheimer’s Associat ion. (n.d.) . Treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. Retr ieved from http:/ /www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_treatments.aspAlzheimer’s Associat ion. (n.d.) . What is Alzheimer’s? Retr ieved from http:/ /www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.aspAlzheimer’s Society. (2014). Drug treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. Retr ieved from http:/ /www.alzheimers.org.uk/si te/scripts/documents_info.php?

documentID=147Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Alzheimer’s disease. Retr ieved from http:/ /www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/alzheimers.htmKing’s Col lege London. (2014). World Alzheimer Report 2014 reveals persuasive evidence for dementia r isk reduction. Retr ieved from http:/ /

www.sciencedai ly.com/releases/2014/09/140917073258.htmNational Inst i tute on Aging. (n.d.) . Alzheimer’s disease fact sheet. Retr ieved from http:/ /www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publ icat ion/alzheimers-disease-fact-

sheet

REFERENCES