An Alzheimer’s Treatment Would Tax the US Health Care System

While current research into Alzheimer’s has been frustratingly slow, there is some new research that shows tentative positive progress. Some of these new treatments might be ready for broader use as soon as 2020.

Herein lays the problem, as soon a solution is found the US does not have the personnel in the right places to affectively distribute a treatment option.   Part of the issue is there are not enough medical personnel who specialize in diagnosing and treating early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Without these personnel, it is difficult to identify and confirm patients would be eligible to receive treatment prior to the full progression of Alzheimer’s. The procedures and equipment needed to specifically diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s patients is also in short supply.

Some medical scientists estimate over two million people who currently have mild levels of cognitive problems could see their condition transition to full Alzheimer’s within the next two decades. Many of them could be left waiting for American medical oversight agencies to confirm and approve any treatments or cures, should any become available. Many in the medical profession are urging lawmakers and other leaders to begin preparing, and at least thinking, about how to respond to the possibility of a cure or treatment for Alzheimer’s now.

Key Points:

  • 1U.S. Healthcare system is incapable of handling a wide range treatment for Alzheimer’s, if discovered.
  • 2There are too few medical specialists in the U.S. to diagnose early on-set symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
  • 3A lot of attention is being given to developing treatments for Alzheimer’s, but not enough attention is being paid to developing a system to handle such an advancement.


Researchers estimate that as many as 2.1 million patients with mild cognitive impairment could develop Alzheimer’s dementia over a two-decade period while waiting for evaluation and treatment resources after approval of an Alzheimer’s disease-modifying therapy by the federal Food and Drug Administration.
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Written by HealthStatus
Medical Writer & Editor

HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our health risk assessment, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years.

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