Not everyone with dementia gets equal access to the newest Alzheimer's treatments. A large study found that Black and Hispanic patients, older individuals, and those in socioeconomically vulnerable neighborhoods were far less likely to receive antiamyloid medications — even after accounting for other health factors. The findings point to a need for targeted interventions to help eligible patients start therapy in the first place.
A new study analyzing nearly 1.2 million patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia found striking disparities in who receives antiamyloid medications — the newest class of Alzheimer's treatments. Only 0.2% of patients were prescribed these drugs, and access was heavily skewed by race, age, and socioeconomic status.
After adjusting for multiple factors, non-Hispanic Black patients had 86% lower odds of receiving antiamyloid therapy compared to non-Hispanic White patients, while Hispanic patients had 79% lower odds. Older patients and those with more comorbidities were also significantly less likely to receive treatment. Neighborhood-level disadvantage — particularly related to education and transportation — further reduced the chances of access.
The silver lining: among patients who did start treatment, adherence rates were similar across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, suggesting the barrier lies in getting patients started, not keeping them on therapy.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: As powerful but expensive Alzheimer's therapies enter the market, ensuring equitable access is critical. These findings highlight systemic gaps that, if unaddressed, could deepen existing health disparities in dementia care.
