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Wetle TT, Van Houtven CH, Shepherd-Banigan ME, Belanger E, Couch E, Sorenson C, Gadbois EA, Burke JR, Jutkowitz E, O'Brien EC, Plassman BL. Beta amyloid PET scans for dementia diagnoses: Practice and research implications from CARE-IDEAS. J Am Geriatr Soc 2024. [PMID: 38798126 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.19008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Beta amyloid PET scans are a minimally invasive biomarker that may inform Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis. The Caregiver's Reactions and Experience (CARE) study, an IDEAS supplement, aimed to understand experiences of PET scan recipients and their care partners regarding motivations for scans, reporting and interpreting results, and impact of results. Patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia who agreed to join the CARE-IDEAS study and their care partners participated in a baseline survey and follow-up survey approximately 18 months later, supplemented by in-depth qualitative interviews with subsets of participants. Patients who received scans and volunteered for follow-up research were more likely to be male, better educated, and have higher income than the general population. Survey information was merged with Medicare data. This article integrates findings from several CARE-IDEAS publications and provides implications for practice and research. Although most participants accurately reported scan results, they were often confused about their meaning for prognosis. Some participants reported distress with results, but there were no significant changes in measured depression, burden, or economic strain over time. Many respondents desired more information about prognosis and supportive resources. Scan results were not differentially associated with changes in service use over time. Findings suggest a need for carefully designed and tested tools for clinicians to discuss risks and benefits of scans and their results, and resources to support patients and care partners in subsequent planning. Learning of scan results provides a point-of-contact that should be leveraged to facilitate shared decision-making and person-centered longitudinal AD care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terrie T Wetle
- Department of Health Services Policy and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Courtney H Van Houtven
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Durham ADAPT, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Megan E Shepherd-Banigan
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Durham ADAPT, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Emmanuelle Belanger
- Department of Health Services Policy and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Elyse Couch
- Department of Health Services Policy and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Corinna Sorenson
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Emily A Gadbois
- Department of Health Services Policy and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - James R Burke
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Eric Jutkowitz
- Department of Health Services Policy and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Emily C O'Brien
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Brenda L Plassman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Couch E, Ashford MT, Zhang W, Prina M. Psychosocial and Behavioral Outcomes for Persons With Cognitive Impairment and Caregivers Following Amyloid-β PET Scan Disclosure: A Systematic Review. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2023; 37:246-258. [PMID: 37561950 PMCID: PMC10529389 DOI: 10.1097/wad.0000000000000569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Positron emission tomography (PET) scans for amyloid-β can aid in the early and accurate detection of Alzheimer disease. The results of amyloid PET scans could help people with cognitive impairment and caregivers better understand their diagnosis; however, there are concerns that they could also cause psychological harm. METHODS A systematic review of psychosocial and behavioral quantitative outcomes following the disclosure of an amyloid PET scan for persons living with cognitive impairment (subjective cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's Disease, and other dementias) and caregivers. FINDINGS Ten papers were identified from 7 studies. There was little evidence of an association between disclosure and depression. However, persons with mild cognitive impairment and their caregivers with elevated levels of amyloid had an increased risk of distress or anxiety compared with those without elevated amyloid. Participants correctly recalled the scan results; however, it is unclear whether this led to an increased understanding of their diagnosis. We did not identify any studies measuring behavioral outcomes. CONCLUSIONS We found mixed evidence on the relationship between amyloid scans and psychosocial and behavioral outcomes in people with cognitive impairment and caregivers. These findings highlight the need for more methodologically rigorous research on this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyse Couch
- Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Miriam T. Ashford
- VA Advanced Imaging Research Center, San Francisco Veterans Administration Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Northern California Institute for Research and Education (NCIRE), San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Wenhan Zhang
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Matthew Prina
- Department of Health Service and Population Research, King’s College London, London UK
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
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Bélanger E, Couch E, Carroll MS, DePasquale N, Gadbois EA, Shepherd-Banigan M, Jutkowitz E, Van Houtven CH, Plassman BL, Wetle TT. Advance directives among cognitively impaired persons who had an amyloid PET scan and their care partners: a mixed-methods study. BMC Palliat Care 2022; 21:194. [PMID: 36336690 PMCID: PMC9638311 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-022-01082-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little research exists on the role of β-amyloid PET scans as part of Alzheimer's diagnostic tests and documentation of end-of-life preferences for persons with cognitive impairment. The study objectives were to examine the association of amyloid PET scan results (elevated vs. not elevated amyloid levels) and diagnostic category (mild cognitive impairment vs. dementia) with the likelihood of having an advance directive (reported a median of 4.5 months post-scan); to explore perceptions of PET scan results and their influence on planning for the future among persons with cognitive impairment and their care partners. METHODS Sequential, explanatory mixed-methods design using data from dyads in the CARE-IDEAS study: advance directives as a factor of diagnostic category and scan result using multivariable logistic regression models; thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with persons with cognitive impairment and care partners to explore how scan results influenced documentation of future healthcare preferences. Participants included 1784 persons with cognitive impairment and care partners from the CARE-IDEAS study, and a subsample of 100 semi-structured telephone interviews. RESULTS 81.6% of dyads reported an advance directive. Non-Hispanic, White participants had higher rates of advance directives. There was no significant association between having an advance directive and scan results. Qualitative analysis provided insight into perceived urgency to have advance directives, evolving healthcare preferences, and the context of completing advance directives. CONCLUSIONS Although amyloid PET scans prompted persons with cognitive impairment and care partners to consider progressive cognitive impairment as part of evolving healthcare preferences, we found substantial variability in the perceived urgency of documentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuelle Bélanger
- Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, 6th Fl., Providence, RI, 02903, USA.
- Department of Health Services, Policy & Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.
| | - Elyse Couch
- Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, 6th Fl., Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Michaela S Carroll
- Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, 6th Fl., Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Nicole DePasquale
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Emily A Gadbois
- Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, 6th Fl., Providence, RI, 02903, USA
- Department of Health Services, Policy & Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Megan Shepherd-Banigan
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, Durham, NC, USA
- Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Eric Jutkowitz
- Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, 6th Fl., Providence, RI, 02903, USA
- Department of Health Services, Policy & Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Courtney H Van Houtven
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, Durham, NC, USA
- Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Brenda L Plassman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Terrie T Wetle
- Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, 6th Fl., Providence, RI, 02903, USA
- Department of Health Services, Policy & Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
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