Real‐world use of diagnostic tests for mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and other dementias in Medicare fee‐for‐service beneficiaries

INTRODUCTION This study assessed real‐world use of diagnostic tests, such as neuroimaging (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], or positron emission tomography [PET]), and computed tomography (CT), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker, and blood tests for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and other dementias in a large US elderly population. METHODS Medicare fee‐for‐service data (2015–2020) were used to identify patients aged ≥ 67 newly diagnosed with MCI, AD, or other dementias. Descriptive analyses were conducted to understand the test use within 1 year before disease diagnosis and trends. RESULTS Among 653,420 patients (9.1% MCI, 30.3% AD, 60.6% other dementias), 71.9% had blood tests, 53.9% neuroimaging (46.4% CT, 17.7% MRI, and 0.7% PET), and 2.2% CSF test. Test use slightly increased from 2015 to 2020. DISCUSSION Findings from this study suggest low use of diagnostic tests, especially PET and CSF. Highlights Blood tests, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography were predominant for diagnosing mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, or other dementias prior to the arrival of disease‐modifying therapies. Cerebrospinal fluid biomarker and positron emission tomography tests were infrequently used despite their diagnostic value. The study indicates a modest increase in diagnostic test usage over 6 years between 2015 and 2020. Patients often received combined or repeated diagnostic tests.