Advancing Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease in the Primary Care Setting in the United States.

Background: Recent advances in diagnostics have made it possible to identify early signs of the pathophysiological changes underlying Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) via blood tests. However, the use of blood‐based biomarkers (BBBMs) for the early detection of AD may be limited in primary care settings despite its potential for wide access and early detection of AD (PMID: 37295421) Therefore, there is a need to understand the barriers and facilitators of BBBM testing for AD in primary care.

Method: We employed a combination of qualitative research, advisory board, and quantitative survey to engage with clinical/scientific advisors and community‐based physicians in primary care.

Expectation and perspectives of patients and physicians on new treatment for early Alzheimer Disease: Results of a physician survey and patient focus group interview.

Background: With the recent approval of disease modifying therapies (DMT) for early Alzheimer’s disease, there is a need for prescribing physicians to accurately communicate expectations of treatment effects to patients and their care partners. To better understand potential challenges and solutions to enhance this communication, physicians were surveyed, after which patients and care partners participated in focus groups.

Method: Step one consisted of an online survey of 100 US‐based neurologists, geriatric medicine specialists and Alzheimer’s disease specialists to ascertain physician perspectives on meaningful benefits associated with anti‐amyloid monoclonal antibody treatment (DMT) over currently available symptomatic treatments.

Evaluation of major national dementia policies and health-care system preparedness for early medical action and implementation.

With population growth and aging, the number of people with dementia and related disorders will grow substantially in the years ahead, bringing with it significant societal, health-care, and economic challenges. Here, we analyze dementia policies of seven major countries in Asia/Pacific, Europe, and North America to identify opportunities for early actions to mitigate disease burden. We find that most countries are addressing this need by including a specific focus on early action in their national dementia strategies (five of seven countries), implementing public health initiatives for risk reduction, prevention, and early detection and diagnosis (six of seven countries); supporting enabling research for early detection and risk reduction (six of seven countries); and enacting a system for early, regular brain health screening (one of seven).