Establishing an Alzheimer Disease Therapeutics Clinic: Experience From a Year of Evaluations

Abstract

Objective: To describe the establishment and initial experience of a multidisciplinary Alzheimer disease treatment clinic (ADTC), focusing on the evaluation of eligibility for novel disease-modifying therapies, as well as the treatment and monitoring of qualifying patients.

Patients and methods: We completed a retrospective review of cases seen through the Mayo Clinic ADTC between October 2, 2023, and December 31, 2024. Typical evaluations occurred over 4 to 5 days and included multimodal testing, office visits, and a weekly case conference modeled on tumor board meetings.

Results: Patients evaluated in the ADTC (N=232) ranged from 52 to 85 years of age (mean age, 71.2 years). Most patients had mild cognitive impairment (128 of 232 [55%]) or mild dementia (72 of 232 [31%]) syndromes. Overall, 121 patients (52%) were judged eligible for antiamyloid therapy. Eligibility rates were higher among internal (from our institution) referrals compared with external referrals (63% [146 of 232] vs 37% [86 of 232). Reasons for treatment ineligibility were typically multiple but commonly included magnetic resonance imaging features, too severe cognitive/functional impairment, and general health conditions believed likely to increase therapeutic risks. In some cases, the ADTC evaluation uniquely identified treatment risk factors, such as cerebral amyloid angiopathy, that had not been previously discussed with patients. Through shared decision making, approximately 30% of eligible patients (25 of 81) ultimately deferred antiamyloid therapy. In addition, approximately 10% of patients evaluated in the ADTC were amyloid-negative by positron emission tomography, suggesting non-Alzheimer disease diagnoses for their presentations.

Conclusion: The ADTC facilitated systematic implementation of antiamyloid therapies for early Alzheimer disease and provided a scalable foundation for integrating future approved treatment options.