Few diseases touch as many lives as Alzheimer’s disease. For too long, the diagnosis has been seen as a devastating verdict leading to inevitable decline, leaving little time for treatment, and as placing a heavy burden on families. This sense of futility has discouraged both patients and physicians from pursuing testing until symptoms are undeniable. That mindset must change.
In just the past two years, progress has accelerated more than in the prior two decades. New drugs such as Lequembi and Kinsula target a part of the disease’s biology, slowing cognitive decline by about one-third in clinical trials. Nearly 140 other therapies are in development, with more than 200 global trials underway. Treatments once thought impossible are becoming real.
But the true revolution is happening in diagnostics. It has only been 25 years since the first imaging biomarkers were first able to detect disease in patients, and in that time, imaging has advanced, spinal fluid tests have been discovered and blood biomarkers have entered the practice in the last seven years.
Alzheimer’s is a disease of co-pathologies: amyloid proteins clump into plaques and misfolded tau proteins form tangles in the brain, both of which form the hallmarks of AD. With the most recent advancement, a blood-based test can now measure the pathological activity of misfolded tau, offering a clear indication of Alzheimer’s-related neurodegeneration. As a result, we are now on the cusp of shifting Alzheimer’s diagnosis from a late-stage formality to an early-detection opportunity where interventions can make the greatest difference.
We’ve seen this story before. The introduction of Cologuard made colon cancer screening easier and less invasive, increasing patients’ participation in their own care. Coronary calcium scans reframed heart disease prevention, turning invisible risk into visible evidence. Similarly, accessible Alzheimer’s blood tests can change behavior, motivating earlier screening, overcoming denial, and enabling treatment and lifestyle changes before symptoms take hold.
The need for urgency is clear. By 2030, Americans over 60 will outnumber children under 5 and by 2050 it is estimated that 13-14 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s if no cure is found. Alzheimer’s already costs the nation more than $360 billion annually. Without earlier detection and action, the financial and emotional costs of the disease’s impact will soar. Families deserve more than crisis-driven diagnoses that leave them with little time to prepare.
Research shows the benefits of early intervention. The U.S. POINTER study, the Swedish FINGER trial, and analyses from the Lancet Commission all point to lifestyle choices — healthy diet, regular exercise, socialization and controlling hypertension — that can reduce the risk or slow cognitive decline by as much as 25%. Pairing these approaches with clinical treatments that are most effective prior to cognitive decline offers the strongest defense against the disease yet.
Critically, early detection transforms how patients and families experience the disease. A timely diagnosis allows families to plan, make informed choices, and access resources. It replaces shock and helplessness with empowerment. When patients and caregivers see that testing leads to actionable steps, the stigma of Alzheimer’s futility weakens.
Equally important, as new diagnostic tools continue to emerge, neurologists and dementia care specialists face an increasing surge in patient referrals for testing, diagnosis, and treatment. An accurate, blood-based test that can identify active tau pathology early – providing a clear “yes” or “no” answer – has immense clinical value. By enabling detection of Alzheimer’s-related tau pathology before symptoms appear, early testing empowers clinicians to screen efficiently, prioritize those at greatest risk, and expedite referrals for neurological evaluation and care planning.
The market conditions for such a shift are established already. In a nationwide survey earlier this year, the Alzheimer’s Association found that nearly 80 percent of respondents were interested in knowing if they had the disease before it began to impair daily life and would be open to proactive testing before waiting for their doctor to recommend it. More impressively, 90 percent of respondents said they would be interested in starting treatment to slow disease progression.
To seize this moment, we must embed blood-based Alzheimer’s screening into mainstream care. That means educating physicians who may still hesitate to recommend testing, updating guidelines to reflect emerging evidence, and ensuring cost is not a barrier.
We stand at a turning point. Alzheimer’s and other dementias rob older Americans of not only memory but also independence and dignity, eroding the fabric of families and communities. Now, for the first time, we have the tools to detect the disease earlier, act sooner, and change its trajectory.
Knowledge is power. With accessible screening, the severest symptoms of Alzheimer’s need not remain an unavoidable fate. Patients, families, and doctors alike must choose to harness these tools today — before symptoms strike — so that tomorrow’s generations inherit not fear, but hope.
Photo: wildpixel, Getty Images
John Forrest is CEO and Co-founder of Veravas, Inc. He is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in healthcare IT, innovation, and commercializing advanced technologies. He has dedicated his career to creating solutions that improve the healthcare industry and make a positive difference in human health. John has successfully led multiple high-growth ventures, has been recognized on the Inc. 500 list of Fastest Growing Companies, and is a Stevie Award winner for business app design. With an unwavering dedication to improving healthcare, today he leads the Veravas team in creating groundbreaking early disease detection solutions that benefit people worldwide.
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