New tests for Alzheimer's disease - horizon scanning review

NHSC
Record ID 32002000541
English
Authors' objectives:

To summarise the current research evidence on new tests for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Authors' recommendations: - Clinical impact: The National Service Framework for Older People states that the NHS should identify and treat older people with mental health problems. The early diagnosis of people with AD could lead to more effective clinical treatment with pharmacological agents such as the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. A large number of patients are believed to have AD and a significant number are currently unidentified until they are in the more moderate to severe stages of the disease. - Service impact: There will be minimal impact if the systems are used within current memory clinics. - Additional factors: Any more discriminatory non-invasive test that becomes available is likely to be welcomed by patients, carers and professionals. - Financial and overall NHS impact: The financial impact of the new memory tests on the NHS may not be significant. However, the ability of these tests to identify patients in the early stages of AD, when pharmacological treatment is more effective, may mean significant additional costs.
Authors' methods: Overview
Details
Project Status: Completed
Year Published: 2002
URL for published report: http://www.hsric.nihr.ac.uk/search
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: England, United Kingdom
MeSH Terms
  • Alzheimer Disease
Contact
Organisation Name: NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre
Contact Address: The NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, 90 Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SP. United Kingdom. Tel: +44 121 414 7831, Fax: +44 121 2269
Contact Name: c.packer@bham.ac.uk
Contact Email: c.packer@bham.ac.uk
Copyright: National Horizon Scanning Centre (NHSC)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.