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Sutter Health's new Alzheimer's review board is breaking down barriers to anti-amyloid therapy. The nonprofit health system launched a virtual panel of specialists that evaluates referrals from general neurologists weekly, cutting through bottlenecks caused by a shortage of cognitive specialists. Since its launch, referrals for these therapies surged 148% — and more patients are being caught earlier in the disease.
Anti-amyloid therapies (ATTs) like lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab (Kisunla) represent a genuine breakthrough in Alzheimer's care — they don't just manage symptoms, they slow the disease itself. But with a growing aging population and a limited number of cognitive neurologists, getting patients access to these treatments has been a real challenge. Sutter Health, a nonprofit system serving 3.5 million patients, decided to tackle this head-on.
Their solution: the Advanced Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease Review Board — a virtual, weekly panel that includes cognitive neurologists, a pharmacist, an RN program manager, and a neuroradiologist. General neurologists evaluate and counsel patients locally, then send referrals to the board, which reviews imaging, biomarkers, and cognitive test results to determine ATT eligibility. The result? A 148% jump in referrals from 2024 to 2025, with more patients being identified in earlier disease stages.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: There simply aren't enough cognitive neurologists to meet rising demand — and that gap will only grow. Sutter's model shows that structured, scalable review systems can empower general neurologists to safely deliver cutting-edge Alzheimer's therapies, potentially serving as a blueprint for health systems nationwide.
