PerspectiveCommentary on “A roadmap for the prevention of dementia II. Leon Thal Symposium 2008.” Innovations in care that advance Alzheimer's disease drug development

Advancing the development of drugs for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is dependent on the ability of investigators to identify, recruit, and retain appropriate subjects in clinical trials. Innovations in care that link primary-care providers with AD researchers can help overcome barriers to early, specific diagnosis and access to research studies. Collaborative care provides a new paradigm for the mutual benefit of patients, providers, and AD research. Recommendations to achieve this goal include funding clinical centers of excellence in AD, linked with community physicians to utilize clinical care and initial evaluations as early entry points for patients into AD research, and funding mini-fellowships for community physicians. Reimbursement for dementia care should be expanded to include periodic cognitive assessments for at-risk individuals, medically directed dementia education, and diagnostic imaging and biomarkers. These innovations can simultaneously improve the translation of research advances, and benefit AD research.