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4. Socio-gerontological perspectives on introducing new Alzheimer’s therapies: a Delphi study across Central European care contextsNataša Štandeker, Šefik Salkunič, Jana Goriup, Kristijan Jejčič, Mateja Berčan, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: Introduction: Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for Alzheimer’s disease, such as Lecanemab, represent a shift fromsymptomatic treatment toward disease modification. Their implementation raises broader societal, ethical, and systemicchallenges related to early diagnosis, healthcare preparedness, long-term care adaptation, and equitable access to treatment.Aim: This study explored expert perspectives on the societal, ethical, and systemic implications of introducing disease-modifying Alzheimer’s therapies within Central European healthcare and long-term care contexts.Methods: A three-round modified Delphi study combining qualitative and quantitative elements was conducted with tenmultidisciplinary experts from Slovenia, Austria, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Data were collected through anonymisedonline questionnaires and analysed using thematic analysis, descriptive statistics, and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance(W).Results: The Delphi process identified six highly prioritised themes: (1) public and professional awareness and education(M = 9.71), (2) development of tailored long-term care models (M = 9.71), (3) faster access to innovative therapies (M =9.43), (4) reduction of dementia-related stigma through public dialogue (M = 8.57), (5) consideration of cultural beliefsand healthcare funding (M = 8.29), and (6) accessibility of medications despite pricing strategies (M = 8.29). Kendall’scoefficient indicated low statistical agreement among expert rankings (W =.084), suggesting partial alignment regardingthematic priorities rather than strong consensus.Conclusion: The findings suggest that implementing disease-modifying Alzheimer’s therapies represents not only a biomed-ical innovation but also a broader socio-gerontological and health system challenge.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, Lecanemab, Delphi method, long-term care, health equity, social gerontology
Published in ReVIS: 19.05.2026; Views: 47; Downloads: 0
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