Disease progression and costs at the 3‐year follow‐up of the GERAS‐US study

INTRODUCTION: GERAS‐US prospectively characterized clinical and economic outcomes of early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (AD). Societal cost changes were examined in amyloid‐positive patients with mild cognitive impairment due to AD (MCI) and mild dementia due to AD (MILD). METHODS: Cognition, function, and caregiver burden were assessed using Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), Cognitive Function Index (CFI), and Zarit Burden Interview, respectively. Costs are presented as least square mean for the overall population and for MCI versus MILD using mixed model repeated measures. RESULTS: MMSE score and CFI worsened. Total societal costs (dollars/month) for MCI and MILD, respectively, were higher at baseline ($2430 and $4063) but steady from 6 ($1977 and $3032) to 36 months ($2007 and $3392). Direct non‐medical costs rose significantly for MILD. Caregiver burden was higher for MILD versus MCI at 12, 18, and 24 months. DISCUSSION: Function and cognition declined in MILD. Non‐medical costs reflect the increasing impact of AD even in its early stages. HIGHLIGHTS: In the GERAS‐US study, total societal costs for patients with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease (MCI) and mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (MILD) were higher at baseline but steady from 6 to 36 months. Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Cognitive Function Index (CFI) worsened; the rate of decline was significant for patients with MILD but not for those with MCI. There was a rise in direct non‐medical costs at 36 months for patients with MILD. Caregiver burden was higher for MILD versus MCI at 12, 18, and 24 months. Slowing the rate of disease progression in this early symptomatic population may allow patients to maintain their ability to carry out everyday activities longer.