The economics of mild cognitive impairment

Individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are at elevated risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the economic burden of AD itself is well recognized, little is known about the direct and indirect costs associated with MCI before the onset of AD. Insufficient data on the economic impact of MCI as well as other gaps in the knowledge base (such as estimates of MCI progression rates and factors that drive MCI-related costs) present challenges to understanding the burden of MCI and to modeling the cost-effectiveness of potential MCI interventions. Initiating treatment and care management in the MCI phase could improve the health and well-being of patients and caregivers and possibly offset certain costs. Future economic analyses should incorporate new data, as they become available, from patient registries and linked administrative claims and electronic medical records to better characterize the cost consequences of MCI detection and management. Such analyses should help payers, providers, and policy makers make more informed decisions about the costs and benefits of new tests, treatments, and other management strategies for the condition.