Medicare Expenditures of Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias or Mild Cognitive Impairment Before and After Diagnosis

Abstract

Participants with ADRD and MCI incurred significantly higher Medicare expenditures than matched controls, even before they received a formal diagnosis. Medicare expenditures of individuals with ADRD and MCI may start to increase at least 12 months before their diagnosis, peak during the first few months immediately after diagnosis, and decrease afterward but remain at a higher level than before diagnosis. These findings highlight the importance of early diagnosis and indicate the need for complex case management to coordinate care transitions for individuals with ADRD and MCI.