California Neurodegenerative Disease Registry: Alzheimer's Disease

Starting on July 1, 2023, Health and Safety Code Section 103871 requires hospital, facility, physician and surgeon, and other health care providers to report to California Department of Public Health (CDPH) each case of a neurode​​generative disease that was designated as reportable by CDPH. However, in light of needed initial onboarding to the reporting systems and corresponding logistics, CDPH will be flexible with the reporting due dates for the first reporting period and will assist providers with the process. All Hospitals, facilitys, physicians and surgeons, or other health care providers diagnosing or pro​viding treatment for a patient with a neurodegenerative disease such as as Alzheimer's disease must review the CNDR Electronic Neurodegenerative Disease Reporting Standards Implementation Guide (PDF).* 

Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. Alzheimer's disease is currently ranked as the seventh leading cause of death in the United States​ and is the most common cause of dementia among older adults. More than 10 percent of the 5.3 million Americans affected by Alzheimer's disease live in California. An estimated 1.1 million California family caregivers provide 952 million hours of unpaid care per year to Alzheimer's patients, with an annual ​​economic value of slightly more than $10 billion. The disease is now the third leading cause of death in California, having increased by 58.3 percent from 2000 to 2004 at a rate much higher than other leading causes of death. The number of Californians 65 and older living with Alzheimer's disease is projected to more than double by the year 2040, according to new data released by the California Department of Public Health in conjunction with the Alzheimer's Association. 

California has been a​​ national leader in Alzheimer's disease research and since 1985 the state has invested more than $90.7 million in the California Alzheimer's Disease Centers, which have leveraged the funds to raise more than $544.5 million in federal and private research money.**

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