Older US adults’ degree of settlement with six statements about (A) cognitive screening and (B) blood biomarker testing for Alzheimer’s illness. Credit score: Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Prognosis, Evaluation & Illness Monitoring (2025). DOI: 10.1002/dad2.70067
Regardless of the potential advantages of early detection and rising remedy choices for Alzheimer’s illness and associated dementias, there’s restricted use of beneficial screening and testing instruments, say researchers on the College of Michigan.
Researchers on the U-M Faculty of Public Well being and Michigan Drugs studied responses from practically 1,300 individuals within the Nationwide Ballot on Wholesome Getting old—a big, nationally consultant survey of older adults—to grasp experiences and views of cognitive screening and blood biomarker testing amongst adults aged 65–80.
According to earlier analysis, their examine discovered that solely about 1 in 5 older People reported having cognitive screening up to now yr, with such charges decrease amongst sure racial and ethnic minority teams (i.e., Hispanic, Asian American). Greater than 6.5 million folks in the US have Alzheimer’s illness or a associated dementia, a quantity projected to double by 2060, based on the Alzheimer’s Affiliation.
Revealed in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Prognosis, Evaluation & Illness Monitoring, the examine confirmed {that a} majority of older People are conscious of the upsides of early detection— earlier remedy, monetary planning and extra.
Even with recognition of potential advantages and Medicare protection of cognitive testing for beneficiaries, the underuse of cognitive screening persists, the researchers say. Hundreds of thousands of dementia instances go undiagnosed and untreated, fueled by a number of boundaries to analysis on the affected person, supplier and well being care system ranges, which the examine particulars.
“Living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias can impact entire families and social systems. When addressed early, individuals along with their loved ones and health care providers can work together to make important medical, financial and legal decisions for the future,” stated Chelsea Cox, a doctoral pupil within the Division of Well being Conduct and Well being Fairness at U-M’s Faculty of Public Well being.
The earlier a dialog about cognitive well being happens, the extra potentialities for prevention, symptom management and remedy open up, stated Scott Roberts, U-M professor of well being conduct and well being fairness and a longtime Alzheimer’s illness and dementia researcher.
“Treatments are now available to help slow the course of Alzheimer’s disease, if started early enough, and there are promising clinical trials and risk reduction strategies available,” he stated. “So for many older adults, talking to your doctor about your cognitive health can be as important as talking to your doctor about your physical health.”
Roberts is a member of the manager committee on the Michigan Alzheimer’s Illness Heart and affiliate director of the Nationwide Ballot on Wholesome Getting old, which is predicated on the U-M Institute for Healthcare Coverage and Innovation. The ballot workforce beforehand revealed a report on dementia screening and testing consciousness and attitudes amongst adults aged 50 to 80; the brand new examine focuses on these aged 65 to 80.
Extra data:
Chelsea G. Cox et al, Older US adults’ experiences with and views about cognitive screening and blood biomarker testing for Alzheimer’s illness, Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Prognosis, Evaluation & Illness Monitoring (2025). DOI: 10.1002/dad2.70067
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Alzheimer’s illness, dementias chronically undiagnosed but early detection hardly ever used (2025, February 20)
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