Neurodegenerative disorders create a trajectory of loss for patients, affecting their memory and functions, emotionally and economically impacting everyone around them. Early detection and a differential diagnosis are the keys to getting the right therapies to the right patients at the right time, slowing down the progression of the disease.1
At Roche, we are determined to play a pivotal role in the management of neurological diseases through innovation that enables timely action. We continue to push the boundaries of scientific understanding to achieve clinical advancements and solve some of the greatest challenges in neuroscience today.
We are collaborating with academia, scientists, industry partners, healthcare professionals, and clinical trial participants, and are following the science for the benefit of people living with neurological disorders. Our hope is to help create a tomorrow where neurological disorders no longer limit human potential to preserve what makes us who we are.
Disorders affecting the nervous system are the leading cause of disease burden in the world, and the top contributor to premature mortality worldwide, accounting for approximately 11.1 million deaths per year.2 As populations grow and age the burden of disability will increase for patients and their caregivers. Carers and family members' ability to work and earn can be severely disrupted, and often they quit working completely for up to two decades. 3
On a wider scale, the cost of neurological conditions is huge. In Europe for example, the cost including indirect and non-medical costs, is comparable to that of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes combined. 3 If the current trajectory doesn’t change, it is projected that there will be a 22% increase in brain disorders cases from 2021 to 2050,4 presenting a significant challenge for global health and healthcare systems.
There are over 400 neurological disorders making neurology an extremely complex disease area.5 Despite the significant social and economic consequences, it remains a low priority for most countries. A recent report found that only 12% of countries in the WHO’s Neurology Atlas 2017 reported a separate public health system budget for neurological disorders3 which can result in a lack of access to appropriate assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and overall support through the patient journey. For example, globally it is estimated that up to 75% of people living with symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease today have not been diagnosed.6
The clinical diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, can be challenging and the rate of misdiagnosis remains significant, particularly in primary care.7 To address the challenge of diagnosing these highly complex diseases, new diagnostic strategies using biological indicators, called biomarkers, are needed.8
Biomarkers are used to help understand, support diagnostic accuracy, and guide effective management and treatment strategies. While imaging techniques, such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), provide essential information, they may not always yield a conclusive diagnosis.8
Without access to timely and accurate diagnosis, patients are unable to access new therapies that could help to manage their condition.
Advanced biomarker technology for Alzheimer's disease testing and diagnosis offers a brighter future for patients and their loved ones.
At Roche, we are uniquely positioned through our collective experience, expertise, and resources. We are boldly exploring innovative solutions to address diagnostic challenges in neurological conditions.
We are firmly committed to researching and developing the global solutions that will help clinicians find and define differential answers in the vast and complex area of neurology. We focus on Alzheimer’s disease today, but we are expanding our portfolio for tomorrow.
At Roche Diagnostics, we understand the power of partnership. Making a meaningful impact across neuroscience requires committing to a journey of discovery that involves collaborating with equally passionate advocates, coalitions, and academic, institutions and industry. We believe that through strong collaboration we can accelerate future solutions and bring reliable products to clinical practice. We are working to change the lives of patients with neurodegenerative diseases, both today and in the future.
The Roche NeuroTool Kit (NTK) is a cutting-edge proof statement that going together gets us further.14 Through a combined effort between academia and industry, the NTK sets the foundation upon which differential diagnostics and personalized therapeutics will be built. The NTK aims to advance research through partnerships, biomarkers, and collaborative data science.
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