Attitudes of Neurologists Toward the Use of Biomarkers in the Diagnosis of Early Alzheimer's Disease
Fortea, Juan (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
García-Arcelay, Elena (Roche Farma)
Terrancle, Ángeles (Roche Farma)
Gálvez, Blanca (Roche Diagnostics)
Díez-Carreras, Verónica (Roche Farma)
Rebollo, Pablo (IQVIA)
Maurino, Jorge (Roche Farma)
Garcia-Ribas, Guillermo (Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal (Madrid))
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date:	2023
Abstract:	Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers reflect key elements of pathophysiology and improve the diagnostic process. However, their use in routine clinical practice is still limited. We aimed to assess neurologists' barriers and enablers to early AD diagnosis using core AD biomarkers. We conducted an online study in collaboration with the Spanish Society of Neurology. Neurologists answered a survey exploring their attitudes towards AD diagnosis using biomarkers in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild AD dementia. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between neurologists' characteristics and diagnostic attitudes. We included 188 neurologists with a mean age (SD) of 40. 6 (11. 3) years, 52. 7% male. Most participants had access to AD biomarkers, mainly in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (89. 9%,#x0025;, n = 169). The majority of participants (95. 2%,#x0025;, n = 179) considered CSF biomarkers useful for an etiological diagnosis in MCI. However, 85. 6% of respondents (n = 161) used them in less than 60% of their MCI patients in routine clinical practice. Facilitating patients and their families to plan for the future was the most frequent enabler for the use of biomarkers. Short consultation time and practicalities associated with the programming of a lumbar puncture were the most common barriers. A younger neurologist age (p = 0. 010) and a higher number of patients managed weekly (p = 0. 036) were positively associated with the use of biomarkers. Most neurologists had a favorable attitude to the use of biomarkers, especially in MCI patients. Improvements in resources and consultation time may increase their use in routine clinical practice.
Grants:	Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad PI14/01126 Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI17/01019 Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI20/01473
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Alzheimer's disease ; Biomarkers ; Decision making ; Diagnosis ; Neurologists
Published in:	Journal of Alzheimer's disease, Vol. 93 Núm. 1 (february 2023) , p. 275-282, ISSN 1875-8908

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-221160
PMID: 36970902

8 p, 76.8 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Institut de Recerca Sant Pau
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles