Clear and early diagnosis helps ensure that therapies can be implemented much earlier, during windows of opportunity when the greatest improvements are possible. Get timely care and access to clinical trials. would want to know early if they had AD, citing their top two reasons as having the ability to plan with their families and obtain treatment earlier (both 70%). An Alzheimer’s Association survey found that 85% of older adults in the U.S. Early diagnosis empowers patients and their families to define their future goals and plan for them (i.e., live the life they choose based on what matters most to them specifically). These results underscore the need for greater emphasis on prevention and implementation of personalized interventions as early as possible. Encouragingly, in a 2022 Lifebrain survey, 70% of respondents said that memory problems would be a key motivator for them to improve their lifestyle (under their care team’s guidance). Growing evidence also suggests that interventions addressing modifiable risk factors, such as obesity, hearing and/or visual impairment, nicotine use, elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol, mood disorders, medication side effects, poor diet, disrupted sleep, lack of exercise, and/or loneliness can help mitigate the risk of cognitive impairment and progression to dementia (see Lancet Commission 2020, FINGER study 2015). Research shows that preserving brain function and building cognitive resilience is a lifelong effort. Impact cognitive trajectory through lifestyle and health-related interventions.
Many patients may not need a specialist referral if PCPs were better equipped to provide diagnostic and management services, especially to patients with uncomplicated cases of dementia and other brain diseases.Įarly detection of cognitive impairment and specific diagnosis, such as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), offers several opportunities to benefit individuals and their families: Unfortunately, there is a significant dearth of specialists which often leads to wait times of three to nine months to see one. Limited access to specialty resources for specific diagnosis leads to delays in initiating care plans. Taken together, PCPs are not well-equipped to screen and monitor patients for cognitive impairment at present. PCPs also report lacking access to cognitive tests as well as resources and time to administer them. Among key barriers, 72% of PCPs said they struggle to differentiate pathological cognitive impairment from normal aging and 47% say they lack expertise performing cognitive assessments. Primary Care Providers (PCPs) face practical barriers to conducting more routine screening.A recent Alzheimer’s Association survey found that nearly all PCPs (96%) think it is important to assess patients aged 60 and older for cognitive impairment, but they currently conduct assessments for half (48%). The approach to heart health or cancer screening illustrates the power and promise of a different, more proactive approach to brain health. Brain care usually becomes a priority only if a patient or family member raises a concern, which delays diagnosis and shortens the window of opportunity for intervention, particularly given patients’ reluctance to raise concerns (e.g., due to stigma). The current approach to brain health is largely reactive with minimal attention paid to prevention of cognitive decline and promotion of cognitive resilience. To improve care and manage the growing needs, the following challenges need to be addressed: Unfortunately, the current state of brain care offers too little too late, failing to promote brain health and prevent or minimize the impact of brain-related disability. Promoting brain health is critical to add life to years. Currently, over 10% of people aged 65 and older and about one-third of people aged 80 or older have Alzheimer’s, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. fear the most and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Dementia is the disability adults in the U.S. The WHO projects that brain-related disabilities will account for half of the worldwide economic impact of disability by 2030.
Neurological disorders, such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia are the leading cause of disability worldwide. As part of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030), there is a global impetus to foster healthy aging and add life to years. Unfortunately though, years of life gained are often associated with health-related disability. is expected to grow to 80 million, up from under 55 million in 2019, per U.S. In less than 15 years, the population of people 65 years and older in the U.S.
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