Prognostication in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

WHY IS AN UNDERSTANDING OF PROGNOSIS IMPORTANT IN ADRD? Because Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) are associated with significant and progressive disease burden, including loss of decision-making capacity, physical and neuropsychiatric symptoms, and prolonged dependency,1 nursing home (NH) care is common for people living with late-stage ADRD.2 Yet, clinical decline of NH residents is slow and predicting lifespan is difficult. Enhanced prognostic understanding and shared decision-making allows for medical, legal, financial, and emotional preparation for the realities of irreversible disease. For NH clinicians, prognostication has pronounced implications for goal-concordant care to people living with dementia (PLWD).