Economic research on Alzheimer disease: a review of the literature.

The present review discusses the economic research to date on Alzheimer disease (AD). It focuses on estimates of the costs of AD and on economic evaluations of interventions in the disease. Empirical and conceptual issues concerning the interpretation of costs and the uses of evaluative methodologies also are discussed. We conclude that estimates of the national costs of AD are open to a large margin of uncertainty. We conclude further that significant opportunities exist for new cost-effectiveness or cost-benefit analyses of AD treatments, patient care options, and counselling, respite, or similar programs for AD caregivers.