Support for Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease

As many as half of the 7.2 million people living with Alzheimer’s in the US, including 164,000 in Virginia, are not diagnosed. Yet an early and accurate diagnosis can improve the quality of life and reduce the financial impact of the disease. Earlier detection and diagnosis would allow people to implement modifiable risk reduction strategies, enroll in a clinical trial and plan for the future.

Thankfully, Senator Mark Warner is a sponsor of the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention Act (ASAP). This bi-partisan legislation enables greater access to blood biomarker tests and earlier detection of Alzheimer’s and other dementia in Virginia and across the nation. The ASAP Act creates a pathway for Medicare coverage of FDA-approved dementia and blood biomarker screening tests. The legislation would also allow coverage for future test methods approved and cleared by the FDA, helping to ensure beneficiaries do not face unnecessary delays to detection and treatment.

Please join me and the Alzheimer’s Association in thanking Senator Mark Warner for his sponsorship of the ASAP Act. In addition, please ask Senator Tim Kaine to serve as a co-sponsor of this important legislation. If you live in VA-08, please contact Rep. Don Beyer and request that he serve as a co-sponsor of the House bill.

Much progress has been made in the fight against Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. With passage of the bi-partisan ASAP Act, the quality of life for those living with this devastating disease will be improved.

To learn more about Alzheimer’s and how you can join in the mission to end this terrible disease, visit alz.org.

Sarah Harris, Alzheimer’s Ambassador

Guy Mayer, Alzheimer’s Advocate