Lilly expands LillyDirect to support Alzheimer’s diagnosis and care

UAE—Eli Lilly and Company has taken a significant step forward in addressing the challenges faced by individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease by expanding its LillyDirect digital healthcare platform.

 This expansion aims to connect patients with independent in-person and telehealth options, providing much-needed support for the nearly 7 million Americans affected by the disease, many of whom remain undiagnosed.

The need for such an expansion is underscored by the current healthcare landscape.

Clinicians and patients alike have highlighted the necessity of increasing the capacity of healthcare systems to diagnose and manage Alzheimer’s disease effectively.

A major obstacle is the prolonged wait times to see dementia specialists, which are expected to exceed one year in 2025.

This issue is particularly pronounced in rural and medically underserved areas, where patients often have to travel long distances for care.

 For instance, nearly one in five Medicare beneficiaries drives more than 50 miles each way to see a neurologist.

Consequently, it can take two years or more after the onset of symptoms for a patient to receive a diagnosis.

This delay is critical because timely diagnosis is crucial for effective disease management.

Biomarker tests play a crucial role in facilitating early diagnosis, which in turn opens up more treatment options for patients.

However, once the disease progresses to moderate or severe stages, treatment options become limited, and patients experience greater dependence on others.

Alarmingly, as many as 3,000 Americans progress from the mild stage to more severe stages of Alzheimer’s disease every day.

David Hyman, MD, Lilly’s Chief Medical Officer, emphasized that early diagnosis and care can significantly impact the lives of individuals living with Alzheimer’s.

By expanding LillyDirect, the company hopes to help patients access additional independent specialty care that can work in tandem with their existing healthcare teams.

This expansion reaffirms Lilly’s commitment to empowering patients to find the care they need when they need it.

The LillyDirect platform now offers several key resources to support Alzheimer’s care.

Healthgrades, an independent doctor locator tool, enables patients to quickly identify local clinicians experienced in diagnosing and managing Alzheimer’s disease.

This tool includes advanced filtering options to match patients with healthcare providers who meet their specific needs.

Additionally, LillyDirect connects patients with Synapticure, a provider specializing in neurodegenerative care, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Synapticure offers comprehensive telehealth services, including live video visits, broad insurance coverage, and ongoing medication management.

The company commits to connecting patients with a care navigator within two days and scheduling an appointment with a neurologist experienced in Alzheimer’s care within about two weeks.

Synapticure’s CEO, Sandra Abrevaya, noted that their inclusion in LillyDirect is particularly beneficial for patients in rural and underserved communities, providing them with timely diagnoses and ongoing support.

Lilly also continues to provide educational resources through MoreThanNormalAging.com, which helps individuals distinguish between normal aging and potential early signs of Alzheimer’s.

This platform offers guidance on recognizing symptoms, understanding biomarkers like amyloid plaques, and initiating conversations with healthcare providers about treatment options.

Notably, unlike other conditions on LillyDirect, the Alzheimer’s resources do not include mail-order pharmacy options for Lilly medicines.

Instead, they focus on education and pathways to connect people with independent healthcare providers.

This strategic approach underscores Lilly’s emphasis on facilitating early diagnosis and care coordination rather than solely on medication access.

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