The Economic Burden of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

Abstract

The societal consequences of dementia disorders in general, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in particular, are among the most important issues when discussing the situation of the health and social sectors (1). Dementia is regarded by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as one of the most important health and social policy issues in its member states (2) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has regarded dementia as one of the major reasons for disability (3). Our research group at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, has estimated that today, there are about 25 million people in the world suffering from dementia (4). Dementia disorders are costly and, combined with an economic crisis in many public health-care systems, raise fundamental questions that are included in any health economical analysis. Since we also have drugs that influence the symptomatology and also resource utilization and costs, issues of cost-effectiveness are of great importance. The economic and social burden of dementia disorders, particularly AD, is therefore the focus of this chapter. However, it must be stated that there are several methodological issues that need to be highlighted (5).