Neurologist Shortage Throughout the United States

According to data presented at the AAIC 2017, a severe shortage of neurologists is currently affecting several regions throughout the United States and could cause significant issues as Alzheimers disease and other dementia-related disease increase in prevalence. 

The researchers used CMS data to determine the ratio of nueologists per 10,000 dementia patients throughout the United States. They found a significant disparity between states by 2025, with Wyoming, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Oklahoma having the largest gaps between the available working nuerologists and the population of patients with dementia in 2025.

Anitha Rao, MD, co-founder and CEO of Neurocern, Inc, explained that regions throughout the United States, known as “deserts,” could represent areas for employing innovative solutions for neurology patients. 

“Our data highlights the importance of neurology education for clinicians, enabling them to have a more positive impact on people with dementia and their families,” Dr Rao said in a press release. “We should see these ‘deserts’ as opportunities for innovation, collaboration and progress.”

Dr Rao proposed additional training and education for primary care providers in regions that have a serious deficit in neurology specialists as a possible solution for serving patients in these regions. 

“This intriguing study highlights several issues, including the clear inequality that exists across the United States in distribution of health resources and specialist knowledge to diagnose and treat brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s,” Beth Kallmyer, MSW, vice president of Constituent Services at the Alzheimer’s Association, said in the press release. “In many places, people do not have easy access to specialists, for a variety of reasons. But you may not need a neurologist in every case. With the right training and tools, primary care physicians can effectively diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer’s Association is working to arm primary care physicians with the tools they need to manage an increased case load, as well as care planning guidance.” —David Costill