THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE IN THE CONTEXT OF NEWDRUG DEVELOPMENTS

The first national symptomatic treatment for Alzheimer's disease has r eceived a very mixed and perhaps ageist reception from purchasers of h ealth care in the UK. This is largely because detailed information on the long-term effects of this class of drugs is scarce. However, by lo oking at the published evidence on the economic burden of Alzheimer's disease, some observations and assumptions can be made as to the influ ence of the new drug treatments. The drug therapies available and thos e most likely to become licensed are reviewed and the potential econom ic impact is discussed. Long-term outcome studies would properly addre ss this, but as these drugs have now demonstrated efficacy, particular ly in non-cognitive behaviours, it will be ethically more difficult to maintain patients on placebo for long periods. Some assumptions there fore have to be made from long-term open-label studies. Those drugs cu rrently available, and those in development, may offer effective treat ment for some of the core symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, slowing the rate of cognitive decline and preserving competence in activities of daily living for longer. If handled correctly, these treatments have t he potential to offer cost savings for many patients, and cost-effecti veness improvements look probable. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.