The emergence of anti-amyloid treatments may revolutionise care for individuals affected with Alzheimer’s disease.1,2 The treatment is being rolled out in specialised neurology centres in the United States, with approximately 3,000 individuals now undergoing anti-amyloid infusions. In the United States, approximately 1 to 2 million people have early Alzheimer’s disease, and it is anticipated that 17% will be eligible. This means that ~340,000 people will require anti-amyloid treatment, which is around 100 times more than those currently treated. There are 550 certified cognitive neurologists in the United States or one for every 600 individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.3
As the demand for anti-amyloid therapy rises, it will likely outstrip the capacity of specialised clinics to take new patients, resulting in general neurology (i.e. non-specialised and less experienced) clinics stepping up to meet demand.
Urgent gap: safeguarding for ARIA* in the community
At present, the broader neurological practices are unlikely to be ready to safely manage ARIA risk. Healthcare professionals in these non-specialised centres will require specific training to both diagnose individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and safely manage anti-amyloid treatment. To support widening uptake of these game-changing treatments, virtual and in-person medical education resources on ARIA will be essential to equip clinicians with the knowledge and confidence to deal with the surge in the number of individuals being treated with anti-amyloid therapies.3 Looking further ahead, to the future availability of home-administered subcutaneous anti-amyloid treatments,4 the need for informed clinicians equipped to manage both inpatient and outpatient Alzheimer’s patients will only increase.
How can TVF Communications help?
Over the past decade, we have partnered with pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients to educate across neurology therapy areas including (but not limited to) Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, multiple sclerosis and psychiatry. We are also experts in developing practical, accredited adult learning programmes for healthcare audiences, from websites and webinars to publication digests and podcasts. Get in touch today to learn more about our service offerings and view our neuroscience case studies.
By Dr Azhaar Ashraf
* Amyloid-related imaging abnormalities
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