Key facts
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has called for improved Alzheimer's screening.
- The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has been prevented from meeting for over a year.
- This delay has stalled potential recommendations on cognitive decline screening.
- Researchers report funding disruptions have slowed their work on Alzheimer's.
- New blood biomarker tests for Alzheimer's exist but are not yet cleared for broad screening.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the US health secretary, has publicly urged for enhanced screening for Alzheimer's disease. However, a critical federal body, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), which could guide research and insurance coverage for such screenings, has been unable to convene for over a year. This administrative halt, attributed to the Trump administration, has prevented the task force from issuing recommendations on cognitive decline screening and other health topics.
John Ruiz, a former member of the USPSTF, noted that the evidence supporting cognitive screening for dementia is currently limited and mixed, suggesting a need for more research. He indicated that the task force's approach has been to encourage further funding for screening studies. The USPSTF's draft recommendations typically undergo public comment, providing a platform for researchers to influence future studies.
Alzheimer's researchers have also reported that their work has been hampered by the health department's policies, including disruptions in funding. In April, Kennedy criticized the USPSTF, calling it 'lackadaisical and negligent' for its perceived inaction over two decades, while simultaneously advocating for increased investment in Alzheimer's screening research.
At the time of Kennedy's remarks, the USPSTF had not met for over a year and had several vacancies. Subsequently, a political appointee fired two taskforce chairs. An HHS spokesperson affirmed the department's commitment to Alzheimer's research and expanding dementia care access.
While new blood biomarker tests for Alzheimer's are emerging, experts like Ann D Cohen urge caution, stating they are diagnostic tools for symptomatic individuals, not broad screening measures, and may be prone to false positives. Cohen's own research on screening tools was delayed due to funding freezes affecting Alzheimer's research centers, forcing her to use philanthropic funds to maintain her clinic's operations.