Researchers from the University of Michigan indicate that despite the possible advantages of timely identification and an increase in treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease and similar dementias, effective screening and assessment methods remain underutilized.
Investigators at the U-M School of Public Health and Michigan Medicine analyzed feedback from nearly 1,300 participants in the National Poll on Healthy Aging—a significant, nationally representative survey aimed at older adults—to gain insights into perceptions and experiences regarding cognitive screening and blood biomarker evaluation among individuals aged 65-80.
In line with earlier studies, the findings revealed that only about 1 in 5 senior Americans indicated they had undergone cognitive screening within the last year, with even lower rates among specific racial and ethnic minority demographics (i.e., Hispanic and Asian American). More than 6.5 million individuals in the U.S. are living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of dementia, a figure expected to double by the year 2060, as per the Alzheimer’s Association.
Published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, the study highlighted that a significant majority of older Americans acknowledge the benefits of early detection—such as timely treatment, financial planning, and more.
Despite recognition of these potential advantages and Medicare’s coverage for cognitive assessments for eligible recipients, the ongoing underutilization of cognitive screening continues, the researchers assert. Countless dementia cases remain undiagnosed and untreated, driven by several obstacles at the patient, provider, and healthcare system levels, which the study elaborates on.
“Living with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementias can affect entire families and social dynamics. Addressing it promptly allows individuals, along with their loved ones and healthcare professionals, to collaborate on crucial medical, financial, and legal decisions for the future,” stated Chelsea Cox, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Equity at U-M’s School of Public Health.
“The earlier a discussion about cognitive health takes place, the more opportunities arise for prevention, symptom management, and treatment,” commented Scott Roberts, U-M professor specializing in health behavior and health equity and a veteran researcher in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
“There are now treatments available that can help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease if initiated early enough, along with promising clinical trials and risk mitigation strategies. Thus, for many older adults, discussing cognitive health with your physician can be just as crucial as conversing about physical health,” he remarked.
Roberts is a member of the executive committee at the Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Center and serves as the associate director of the National Poll on Healthy Aging, which is hosted at the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. The poll team has previously released a report regarding awareness and attitudes towards dementia screening and testing among adults aged 50 to 80; the current study zeroes in on those aged 65 to 80.