Report from the Alliance to Improve Dementia Care calls for building workforce capacity, expanding Medicare Annual Wellness Visits, and more, to improve detection and diagnosis.

Washington, D.C. – May 11, 2021 – The Milken Institute today released recommendations to broaden access to dementia detection and diagnosis. “Building Workforce Capacity to Improve Detection and Diagnosis of Dementia” identifies the barriers to and benefits of timely detection and offers recommendations to expand routine screenings in primary care and specialty care settings, community-based and retail health clinics, and leverage the direct care workforce.

The Milken Institute estimates that by 2040, nearly 13 million adults in the United States will live with some form of dementia, double the current number. Despite being a leading cause of death in the US, dementia is currently underdiagnosed or caught in its later stages. Research reviews estimate between 40 to 60 percent of adults with probable dementia are undiagnosed.

As the proportion of older adults continues to rise, early detection and diagnosis of dementia are critical. Otherwise, individuals with dementia can face medication mismanagement, burdensome out-of-pocket costs for care, and continuation of risk factors that can accelerate cognitive decline. 

“Early detection and diagnosis of dementia can allow individuals and their families to plan for the road ahead,” said Nora Super, executive director of the Milken Institute’s Alliance to Improve Dementia Care. “Through this report, we aim to equip health-care professionals with proven tools and resources to detect and diagnose dementia in a timely manner, encourage individuals to pursue cognitive screenings to track their brain health, and offer guidance for policymakers on best practices and existing solutions.”

The Milken Institute’s Alliance to Improve Dementia Care developed the following recommendations in collaboration with leaders representing industry, government, research, advocacy, philanthropy, community-based organizations, health systems, and people living with dementia and their caregivers.

Report recommendations center on the three following themes:

• Promoting timely detection of cognitive impairment in primary care settings.

• Driving awareness and education for health-care professionals and consumers to destigmatize cognitive impairment.

• Broadening access and interprofessional coordination in detection, diagnosis, and care delivery.

Related to these themes, the Alliance recommends the six following solutions:

• Create the business case to demonstrate the return on investment (ROI) for timely detection and diagnosis of cognitive impairment within the primary care setting.

• Promote routine utilization of structured cognitive assessments during the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit.

• Accelerate incorporation of available and recognized trainings and toolkits into primary care team clinical workflows to augment detection and diagnosis.

• Address stigma surrounding dementia by raising awareness of the benefits to early detection and diagnosis and creating consumer demand for and expectation of routine cognitive assessment.

• Facilitate expansion of and access to cognitive assessment strategies to include age-friendly clinical and non-clinical home- and community-based settings.

• Promote long-term coordination and partnerships among medical and non-medical stakeholders to elevate detection, diagnosis, and care delivery strategies.

The report kicks off the key priority of a dementia-capable workforce from the Alliance to Improve Dementia Care, which is dedicated to improving quality of life and care for individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

“Building Workforce Capacity to Improve Detection and Diagnosis of Dementia” is co-authored by Diane Ty and Mac McDermott and can be downloaded here.

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About the Milken Institute

The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that helps people build meaningful lives in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities. For more information, visit https://milkeninstitute.org/

About the Alliance to Improve Dementia Care

The Alliance to Improve Dementia Care brings together a multi-sector coalition of leaders to advance timely detection, access to treatment and coordinated care, and health equity for people at risk for and living with dementia and their caregivers. Through expert workgroups, convenings, and collaborative initiatives, the Alliance amplifies and promotes the adoption of proven solutions and promising innovations. For more information, visit https://milkeninstitute.org/alliance