Mapping disparities in access to lecanemab in Georgia.

INTRODUCTION

The approval of lecanemab-irmb offers potential disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD), but geographical access barriers to infusion and amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) imaging sites might prevent timely access to the drug. We examined disparities in access to lecanemab infusion sites and amyloid PET scan facilities in Georgia's 159 counties.

METHODS

Facility location maps were used to examine lecanemab access. We used drive time analysis to identify and map counties by drive time.

RESULTS

No rural county had an amyloid PET scan center and only one had a lecanemab infusion center. Residents in rural counties need to drive > 1 hour on average to reach the nearest facility, which is statistically significantly longer than those in non-rural counties.

DISCUSSION

Lack of access and long drive times pose health equity issues for those in rural counties, which already have a higher percentage of older residents and a higher prevalence of behavioral AD risk factors.

HIGHLIGHTS

We mapped amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) scan and lecanemab infusion facilities in Georgia. We examined the drive time to the nearest facility in each county. One lecanemab infusion facility and no amyloid PET scan facilities were found in rural counties. The mean drive time to the nearest facility is significantly longer for rural counties. The results call for policies and resources to address this health disparity issue.