Cortical excitability has been proposed as a novel neurophysiological marker of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s dementia (AD). However, the link between cortical excitability and structural changes in AD is not well understood.

To assess the relationship between cortical excitability and motor cortex thickness in AD.

In 62 participants with AD (38 females, mean ± SD age = 74.6 ± 8.0) and 47 healthy control (HC) individuals (26 females, mean ± SD age = 71.0 ± 7.9), transcranial magnetic stimulation resting motor threshold (rMT) was determined, and T1-weighted MRI scans were obtained. Skull-to-cortex distance was obtained manually for each participant using MNI coordinates of the motor cortex (x = −40, y = −20, z = 52).

The mean skull-to-cortex distances did not differ significantly between participants with AD (22.9 ± 4.3 mm) and HC (21.7 ± 4.3 mm). Participants with AD had lower motor cortex thickness than healthy individuals (t(92) = −4.4, p = <0.001) and lower rMT (i.e., higher excitability) than HC (t(107) = −2.0, p = 0.045). In the combined sample, rMT was correlated positively with motor cortex thickness (r = 0.2, df = 92, p = 0.036); however, this association did not remain significant after controlling for age, sex and diagnosis.

Patients with AD have decreased cortical thickness in the motor cortex and higher motor cortex excitability. This suggests that cortical excitability may be a marker of neurodegeneration in AD.

The methods of economic evaluation and HTA should be based on best practices and standards, tailored to unique country contexts that can be systematically applied to inform decisions. This paper outlines standards for the conduct of economic evaluations for HTA in Ghana.

A five-step process was followed to develop the HTA reference case as a methodological and reporting benchmark. These include (a) a review of literature and evidence synthesis, (b) a review of country policies, (c) a review and adaption of international frameworks, (d) expert/stakeholder consultations, and (e) the development of a methodological framework. A series of stakeholder consultations were done to refine, finalize, and validate the outcomes of the processes to generate a finalized reference case.

The Ghana reference case is made up of 14 components comprising: evidence synthesis, evaluation type, perspectives on cost, perspectives of outcomes, choice of comparator, data sources, outcome measures, discount rate, uncertainty, equity considerations, time horizon, heterogeneity, transparency, and budget impact. These provide methodological considerations and reporting requirements for economic evaluations for HTA. It provides a framework to ensure the best research methods are adopted to harmonize the evidence-generation process with the expectations of policy and decision-makers and ensure that policy decisions are based on uniform evidence.

Recommendations set out in this reference case when followed can provide context-specific evidence to support a rigorous and transparent system for evaluating healthcare interventions and technologies. It will support decision-making, ultimately improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery in the country.

There is a need to consider whether treatments included in essential medicine lists, standard treatment guidelines, and health benefits packages are cost effective, improve financial sustainability, and increase equitable access to health care. This assessment evaluated the cost effectiveness of selected antidiabetic medicines for inclusion on Ghana’s Essential Medicines List and updated standard treatment guidelines, and reimbursement by the National Health Insurance Authority.

This study was produced in line with the broad steps of the Ghana health technology assessment (HTA) process guideline using an adaptive HTA (aHTA) approach and following the process used by the National Cancer Grid of India. High quality HTA evidence was sourced from four HTA agencies based on the population (children aged two years or older and adults older than 18 years using antidiabetics), intervention, comparator, and outcomes framework using an adaptability checklist developed by the researchers. A price benchmarking analysis was conducted to generate context relevant evidence on medicine prices in terms of local value for money.

The study found that all medicines evaluated (sitagliptin, vildagliptin, saxagliptin, insulin detemir, insulin degludec, insulin glargine, insulin glusiline, insulin aspart, and insulin lispro) were efficacious. The price benchmark analysis showed that insulin detemir, glargine, and degludec had higher price ratios than their comparators, and an annual drug cost per patient that was approximately two to four times higher. Insulin lispro, aspart, and glulisine had price ratios of 0.22 to 0.44 and an estimated annual cost of GHS1,894 to GHS3,552 (USD163.3 to USD306.2), which was two to five times higher per patient than the comparators. The cost of saxagliptin and vildagliptin were four and three times lower than those in the benchmark country (the UK).

The study revealed that all medicines included are efficacious and potentially cost effective. The price benchmark analysis showed that, except for gliclazide 80 mg, Ghana is paying less for antidiabetic medications than the UK. Cost effectiveness may not be a sufficient basis to include or exclude medicines for reimbursement because they have a potentially significant budget impact for the payer.