Alzheimer’s science is advancing rapidly. We now have disease-modifying therapies that can slow progression in early disease. But a major challenge remains: The healthcare system is not yet designed to deliver early Alzheimer’s care at scale.
Today:
• Millions of people may have early Alzheimer’s pathology
• Memory specialists represent only a small fraction of the physician workforce
• Wait times for specialist evaluation can exceed 18 months
This creates a critical bottleneck for diagnosis and treatment.
In this paper, our multi-stakeholder consortium—representing patients, providers, payers, and industry—explores how primary care can play a much larger role in:
🧠 Detecting cognitive decline
🧠 Diagnosing early Alzheimer’s disease
🧠 Initiating and monitoring treatment
🧠 Supporting brain health and risk reduction
We also outline system changes needed to make this possible, including:
✔ Primary care education and clinical pathways
✔ Blood biomarker testing and digital cognitive assessments
✔ Reimbursement reform and team-based care models
✔ Policies that prioritize equity and patient-centered care
The goal is simple but urgent:
Ensure that scientific advances in Alzheimer’s disease actually reach patients.
We are grateful to the co-authors and the many stakeholders who contributed to this work and look forward to the conversation about how we redesign the system to meet the growing needs of patients and families.
Share the research