Investigating the Impact of Alzheimer's Disease Diagnostics in British Columbia

The IMPACT-AD BC study is an observational, longitudinal cohort study designed to understand the impact of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing for core Alzheimer's disease biomarkers on clinical decision making, diagnosis, health system utilization, and patients and their care partners. Dementia specialists from multiple sites in the Canadian province of British Columbia will be approached to provide informed consent to participate. When these physicians order Alzheimer's disease CSF biomarker testing as part of routine care (DeMarco et al 2020), their patients will be eligible to participate in the study. Eligible patients (the patient participants) and their study partners (e.g., a family member or care partner) will be approached to provide informed consent to participate. The dementia specialists will provide diagnosis and management plans for their consenting patient participants before and after Alzheimer's disease CSF biomarker results. One year after release of the Alzheimer's disease CSF biomarker results, dementia specialists complete another questionnaire to assess the stability of their responses. In addition to these data, the study will collect patient participant/care partner perspectives on CSF biomarker testing post-results disclosure. Via the IMPACT-AD BC study, the investigators will collect the first data of its kind on the utility of CSF biomarkers in routine care in Canada, with the overall goal of improving care and support systems for individuals living with neurodegenerative disorders.