OMNY Health’s recent study is shedding light on the role of cognitive impairment in patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most frequent type of neurodegenerative disease that develops over several years. It is characterized by multiple cognitive deficits that progress over time, including memory deterioration. Newly approved monoclonal antibodies, unlike traditional medications that primarily relieve symptoms, have been shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by approximately 30%.
At OMNY Health, researchers recently completed a retrospective analysis (2017 to 2024) of electronic health records from over 150,000 patients that had received Alzheimer’s disease care in the United States. The study aimed to characterize the cognitive state of patients and to describe their treatment regimens. OMNY’s researchers focused on nearly 7,000 Alzheimer’s disease patients in the dataset who had either the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) or the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) scores available.
Key Findings
The findings provide insight into the cognitive state of patients as they are first observed within the health system and receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. On average patients were 78 years of age at the time of their first observed diagnosis. Following the first observed diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, patients were categorized into four groups based on their first reported cognitive scores: normal, mild, moderate, and severe.
The distribution of cognitive severity among patients was as follows:
- Normal: 15%
- Mild: 37%
- Moderate: 35%
- Severe: 13%
OMNY’s research also found that with increasing cognitive impairment (normal, mild, moderate, severe), there was a monotonic rise in the proportions of female patients (51%, 60%, 64%, 67%) and nonwhite patients (15%, 17%, 22%, 27%).
The study additionally assessed treatment patterns within 30 days of diagnosis. Many patients (59%) received cholinesterase inhibitors or NMDA receptor antagonists—therapies aimed at symptom management—with usage rates consistent across impairment levels. Fewer than 1% of patients had received treatment with newer monoclonal antibodies.
Why It Matters
As disease-modifying therapies become more accessible, OMNY’s insights can support the research community in evaluating treatment effectiveness, informing clinical decision-making, and advancing understanding of disease progression across patient populations.