Abstract:
Background New effective treatments for dementia are lacking, and early prevention focusing on risk factors of
dementia is important. Non-pharmacological intervention therapies aimed at these factors may provide a valuable
tool for reducing the incidence of dementia. This study focused on the development of a mathematical model to
predict the number of individuals with neurodegenerative diseases, specifically Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s
disease, vascular dementia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Scenarios for non-pharmacological intervention
therapies based on risk factor reduction were also assessed. The estimated total costs and potential cost savings from
societal were included.
Methods Based on demographic and financial data from the EU, a mathematical model was developed to predict
the prevalence and resulting care costs of neurodegenerative diseases in the population. Each disease (Alzheimer’s
disease, Parkinson’s disease, vascular dementia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) used parameters that included
prevalence, incidence, and death risk ratio, and the simulation is related to the age of the cohort and the disease
stage.
Results A replicable simulation for predicting the prevalence and resulting cost of care for neurodegenerative
diseases in the population exhibited an increase in treatment costs from 267 billion EUR in 2021 to 528 billion EUR by
2050 in the EU alone. Scenarios related to the reduction of the prevalence of dementia by up to 20% per decade led
to total discounted treatment cost savings of up to 558 billion EUR.
Conclusion The model indicates the magnitude of the financial burden placed on EU healthcare systems due to the
growth in the population prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases in the coming decades. Lifestyle interventions
based on reducing the most common risk factors could serve as a prevention strategy to reduce the incidence of
dementia with substantial cost-savings potential. These findings could support the implementation of public health
approaches throughout life to ultimately prevent premature mortality and promote a healthier and more active
lifestyle in older individuals.
