Analysis Reveals Economic Cost of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Are 'Tip of the Iceberg'

A research analysis of the total cost of Alzheimer's disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease determined that certain socioeconomic costs are omitted by current estimates, reports Medical Xpress . Among these hidden costs are those related to declining health for caregivers, erosion of family savings, and reduced quality of life for people with dementia and their caregivers. Dementia is currently estimated to cost the U.S. economy $290 billion annually and $1 trillion a year globally. The review cited studies showing that caregivers may be more prone to depression, anxiety, and hypertension, which each carry their own cost of care. Meanwhile, disorders that cause dementia are often not diagnosed in the early stages, and their socioeconomic costs usually manifest in the years before diagnosis. These could include the expenses of diagnostic tests to exclude other conditions, higher costs of managing other problems that may be exacerbated by dementia, and declining quality of life. "We must come together to develop and implement comprehensive national dementia prevention, treatment, care, workforce education, and training, and research action plans that better measure societal impact; to promote private-public partnerships; and to focus priorities, policies, and plans to combat ADRD," concluded Banner Sun Health Research Institute Director Alireza Atri.