New Legislation to Improve the Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s is a much more common affliction than is often recognized and diagnosed, and according to the Alzheimer’s Association, as many as half of those meeting the diagnostic criteria never receive a formal diagnosis.  It is even thought that the figure may be much higher than this, and it is certainly likely to increase as our aging population swells.  

This new legislation indicates that understanding that the failure to make a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s deprives sufferers from the treatment that could improve their symptoms, and also makes the role of their caregivers more challenging.

Robert Egge, the vice president of public policy for the Alzheimer’s Association, stresses the importance of early diagnosis and timely intervention, “The later in the disease process individuals receive a diagnosis, the more likely they are to miss opportunities to make key treatment, care and planning decisions.”

Another key aspect of the new HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act is the documentation of dementia in medical records.  Ensuring dementia is fully and comprehensively recorded in a person’s medical records helps health care providers maintain continuity of treatment, especially when a person is transferred from one care environment to another.  It is a reality that most people who suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s usually have one or more other serious medical conditions.  This can often be as a result of the cognitive impairment that affects them.  This can mean that Alzheimer’s sufferers can often require periods of hospitalization to manage chronic conditions, and medical costs can escalate.

The HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act is therefore a huge step forward to the long-term management of quality health care for those who become afflicted with this debilitating disease.

The Alzheimer’s Association have commended those in congress whose leadership has been behind the introduction of this new legislation: Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Sen. Susan Collins, Rep. Edward Markey, and Rep. Christopher Smith as part of the Alzheimer’s Congressional Task Force.