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Dementia is a global health disparity in Although blood-based biomarkers are FDA- effectively to improve the trajectory of dis- Monoclonal Antibodies are Transforma-
aging, affecting an estimated 55 million older approved, they are not yet independently di- ease burden on patient and community out- tive Treatments that Redefine Alzheimer's
adults worldwide. Over time, the number of agnostic and remain uncovered by Medicare. comes. Projections indicate that increased Disease Therapeutics. Drugs, 1-8
1
adults aged 65 and older is expected to rise to Lumbar punctures are both FDA and life expectancy will correlate with higher De- Aguree, S, Zolnoori, M, Atwood, TP, and
78 million by 2030 and to 139 million by Medicare-approved, however, there remains mentia prevalence. This expected rise neces- Owora, A. (2023). Association between
2050. Currently, there is an estimated 6.7 limited utilization due to potential cost and sitates a corresponding enhancement in Choline Supplementation and
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million older adults diagnosed with patient risk. healthcare infrastructure, including more ro- Alzheimer's Disease Risk: A Systematic
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) as of 2023. As Current literature cites similar treatments bust caregiver support systems and improved Review Protocol. Frontiers in
such, if medical advances are not achieved to among Dementia types. Cholinesterase in- public health strategies to manage the in- Aging Neuroscience, 15, 1242853
prevent, slow progression or treat AD, this hibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine, galanta- creasing burden of Dementia. One such im- Miziak, B, Błaszczyk, B, and Czuczwar, SJ.
figure is predicted to increase to 13.8 million mine) and NMDA Receptor Agonists proved public health strategy includes (2021). Some candidate drugs for phar-
by 2060. The increasing burden of AD is (Memantine) remain the most common treat- employing home-based primary care services macotherapy of Alzheimer’s disease. Phar-
demonstrated by the rise in recorded deaths ment modalities in Lewy Body Dementia, such as Doctor at Your Service, which pro- maceuticals, 14(5), 458
from the condition, which increased by more AD, and Behavioral and Psychological Symp- vides comprehensive primary care to rural, Tucker-Drob, EM. (2019). Cognitive aging
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than 145 percent between 2000 and 2019. toms in Dementia. Although these treatment homebound and in-clinic patients. Likewise, and dementia: a life-span perspective. An-
This surge has shed light on the aging boomer options are thought to reduce neuron death improvements in caregiver support systems, nual review of developmental psychol-
population and the increase in the diagnosis and improve cholinergic pathways, they fail to such as the involvement of Dementia Care ogy, 1, 177-196
of various types of Dementia. Previously, epi- prevent or slow infiltrative plaque and disease Specialists, Gerontologic Specialists and al-
demiological studies were few and frequently progression. Recent advancements in location of community resources, assists in Antonio Cavazos, Jr., MD, is the
had a narrow focus in the early stages of offi- Alzheimer's treatments show promise. In applying the evolving research leading to founder of Doctor At Your Service
cial Dementia research. As a result, the actual 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration early detection and diagnosis, treatment, en- PLLC, and a Past President of Bexar
effect and scope of Dementia in populations approved lecanemab (Leqembi) for people hanced disease management and advanced County Medical Society.
were significantly underestimated. Reports of with mild AD and mild cognitive impairment care planning to improve outcome for pa-
Dementia cases rose along with knowledge of due to Alzheimer's. Lecanemab is a mono- tients, families and communities. Amber Casarez, AGNP-C, PhD-C,
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the condition, especially in the latter half of clonal antibody that prevents beta-amyloid is a Dementia-Certified Specialist and
the 20th century. A portion of this growth from clumping into plaques and assists the References: Gerontologist.
Dementia: can be ascribed to enhanced diagnostic stan- body in clearing them from the brain. An- 1. World Health Organization. (2023). De-
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https://www.who.int/news-
mentia.
other promising medicine, donanemab, tar-
dards and heightened awareness of the illness
room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia
gets and reduces amyloid plaques and tau
among the public and medical community.
Incidence, Prevalence, mentia uses biological markers like blood test- proteins and has been found to slow declines 2. Alzheimer's Disease International. (2021).
The current paradigm for diagnosing De-
World
2021.
Report
Alzheimer
in thinking and functioning in people with
ing, neuroimaging and cognitive examinations early AD . Aducanumab (Aduhelm), while ap- https://www.alzint.org/resource/world-
Diagnostic and to highlight the significance of early identifi- proved for the treatment of Alzheimer's, has alzheimer-report-2021/
cation. Current cost-effective, approved clini- shown mixed results in studies regarding its ef- 3. Rajan, KB, Weuve, J, Barnes, LL, McAn-
Treatment Approaches cal pathophysiological testing for Dementia fectiveness in slowing cognitive decline and inch, EA, Wilson, RS, and Evans, DA.
(2021). Population estimate of people
has limited insurance coverage. There is a
includes objective findings in memory, lan-
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guage, executive function and visuospatial growing consensus that multi-drug trials tar- with clinical Alzheimer's disease and mild
By Antonio Cavazos MD, and Amber Casarez AGNP-C, PhD-C abilities, as well as a decline in functional de- geting different aspects of the disease process, cognitive impairment in the United States
pendence. Advancements in testing include including metabolic dysfunction and inflam- (2020–2060). Alzheimer's & demen-
biological markers in AD, including CSF mation, will be crucial for effective treatment tia, 17(12), 1966-1975
analysis and MRI for amyloid and tau pro- in the future . 4. Kurkinen, M. (2023). Lecanemab
teins, which are currently undergoing FDA Understanding Dementia's evolving trajec- (Leqembi) is not the right drug for pa-
approval, with neurotracers (Amyvid, Tauvid) tory is vital for healthcare planning and re- tients with Alzheimer’s disease. Ad-
being the gold standard. Despite these ad- source allocation. Continued research and vances in Clinical and Experimental
vancements, logistical challenges to these innovation in diagnosis and treatment are Medicine, 32(9), 943-947
methods exist for clinicians and patients alike. imperative to address this growing challenge 5. Cummings, J. (2023). Anti-Amyloid

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