Most Americans Want Easy Early Testing For Alzheimer's

Key TakeawaysMost Americans want to know in advance if they’re going to develop Alzheimer’s diseaseAbout 4 out of 5 want to know if they have Alzheimer’s before they develop symptomsNine in 10 want a simple blood test for Alzheimer’s.WEDNESDAY, April 30, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- Most Americans want to know if they’re destined to lose their brain power to Alzheimer’s disease, according to an annual report produced by the Alzheimer’s Association.About 4 out of 5 Americans surveyed (79%) want to know if they have Alzheimer’s before developing any symptoms, or before symptoms interfere with their daily lives, says the 2025 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report.Likewise, Americans are keen to take any medicine that would slow the progression of Alzheimer’s, with 92% saying they’d probably or definitely take such drugs, the report says.In fact, nearly 3 in 5 (58%) even said they would accept moderate to very high levels of risk from medications if they would slow Alzheimer’s progression in the early stages.“Our survey finds that people want to know if they have Alzheimer’s, and they want to know before it impacts their daily life,” Elizabeth Edgerly, the association's senior director for community programs and services, said in a news release. “They want a simple test so they can access care earlier, including treatments that can slow the progression of the disease.”Their interest in early diagnosis and treaments highlights the importance of developing diagnostic testing that is easy to administer and available widely, she said.“We also heard loud and clear that Americans want disease-modifying treatments that can make a real difference after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis," Edgerly said.Their urgency comes as the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease tops 7 million for the first time, with 7.2 million people 65 and older living with the degenerative brain disease.About 91% of survey respondents said they would want to take a simple test if it were available, such as a blood test, to find out if they were at risk for Alzheimer’s.And 80% said they would ask to be tested rather than wait for their doctor to suggest testing, the report says.No such simple test now exists, but developing one is a key effort in the fight against Alzheimer’s.If diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, more than 4 of 5 Americans (83%) said they’d be willing to participate in clinical trials for treatments – with 48% citing the ability to participate as a reason for wanting testing.“As someone who has benefitted from early diagnosis and treatment, I encourage others who are worried about their cognition to be proactive in addressing their concerns,” Darlene Bradley, a member of the Alzheimer’s Association Early-Stage Advisory Group, said in a news release.“The survey underscores what many of us living with Alzheimer’s believe — we want every opportunity to fight this disease and live the best life we can for as long as we can,” she said. “I am living proof that there is life after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.”Generally, Americans are optimistic about new treatments to slow or prevent Alzheimer’s. More than 4 out of 5 (81%) believe new therapies to slow progression will emerge in the next decade, and two-thirds (66%) think treatments to prevent Alzheimer’s outright will soon emerge.But insurance is a key concern regarding their access to these medications. About 44% worry that insurance will not cover their care and treatment if they test positive for Alzheimer’s, the report says.“Our survey makes it clear — most Americans want to take action if they experience cognitive problems,” Edgerly said. “With the rising prevalence of Alzheimer’s, it’s more important than ever that researchers, clinicians, health systems, public health officials and other stakeholders work together to ensure all Americans have access to timely and appropriate Alzheimer’s diagnosis, care and treatment.”The survey, conducted Nov. 7-18, 2024, included 1,702 U.S. adults 45 and older.More informationThe Alzheimer’s Association has more on current medical tests for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease.SOURCE: Alzheimer’s Association, news release, April 29, 2025 .What This Means For YouPeople are very interested in early testing and treatment for Alzheimer’s disease..Sign up for our weekly HealthDay newsletter