Regional Variation Seen in Alzheimer and Related Dementia Diagnosis
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Aug. 19, 2024 -- The rate of new Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) diagnoses varies across the United States, according to a study published online Aug. 16 in Alzheimer's & Dementia.
Julie P.W. Bynum, M.D., M.P.H., from the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, and colleagues used Medicare claims for a cohort of older adults across hospital referral regions (HRRs) to measure geographic variation in diagnosed cases of ADRD. ADRD-specific regional diagnosis intensity was measured as the ratio of expected new ADRD cases based on population demographics, risk factors, and practice intensity compared to observed cases.
The researchers found that across HRRs, the crude new ADRD diagnosis rate ranged from 1.7 to 5.4 per 100. The intensity of ADRD-specific diagnosis varied from 0.69 to 1.47 and varied most for Black, Hispanic, and the youngest (ages 66 to 74 years) subgroups. ADRD diagnosis intensity was associated with a twofold difference in receiving an ADRD diagnosis across all subgroups.
"These findings raise important questions regarding the degree to which differences in access and health care practices may drive excess variability in ADRD detection," the authors write.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted August 2024
Read this next
Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 May Affect Risk for Alzheimer Disease
THURSDAY, May 22, 2025 -- Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is associated with an increased risk for Alzheimer disease (AD) based on real-world data from the United States...
Exposure to Certain HIV Drugs May Significantly Lower Risk for Alzheimer Disease
TUESDAY, May 20, 2025 -- Exposure to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), which treat HIV and hepatitis B and inhibit inflammasome activation, is associated with a...
Greater Sedentary Time Associated With Higher Risk for Alzheimer Disease
FRIDAY, May 16, 2025 -- Sedentary time is associated with an increased risk for Alzheimer disease (AD), according to a study published online May 13 in Alzheimer's &...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.