Published on: May 27, 2025
A new study from the University of Georgia reveals that rural Georgians face significant barriers in accessing medications that could slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease—particularly concerning given the disproportionately high burden of the disease in these areas.
The study examined the availability of two key components needed to receive treatment: the intravenous drug lecanemab and the PET scans required to diagnose Alzheimer’s. Researchers assessed access across all 159 counties in Georgia.
The findings were stark: none of Georgia’s rural counties had a PET scan facility, and only one had an infusion center. Rural residents often had to travel more than an hour for a PET scan and, in some cases, over three hours to reach an infusion site for lecanemab.
“It’s difficult for patients to find a trained Alzheimer’s specialist to make an accurate diagnosis,” said lead author Niying Li, an assistant professor at UGA’s College of Pharmacy. “And once they do, they need to travel to an infusion center every two weeks with a caregiver, since patients can’t drive themselves due to possible side effects from the drug.”
These barriers make accessing care nearly impossible for many rural patients and their families.
More than 188,000 Georgians live with Alzheimer’s, and countless others provide unpaid care. Yet the state’s 28 infusion centers for lecanemab are heavily concentrated around Atlanta, with only one located in a rural county. Likewise, none of the six Memory Assessment Clinics offering or referring for PET scans are in rural areas.
Patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s often struggle with changes in routine. Long trips for infusions—followed by lengthy sessions and the return journey—can be exhausting and disorienting, not just inconvenient.
"This study makes it clear that rural Alzheimer’s patients are underserved and unsupported," said Li.
The shortage of healthcare professionals adds to the crisis. Eighteen counties in Georgia—most of them rural—don’t even have a family medicine doctor. This makes simply getting diagnosed a challenge, requiring reliable transportation and a caregiver who can take time off work.
Despite the challenges, lecanemab represents a rare advancement. While costly and requiring close monitoring due to serious potential side effects, it is one of only two FDA-approved drugs that can slow Alzheimer’s progression. A third was recently withdrawn from the market.
The researchers emphasize that these remaining treatments have the potential to reshape early Alzheimer’s care—if patients can reach them.
Source: https://news.uga.edu/rural-georgians-lack-access-to-alzheimers-disease-treatment/
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