Missourians Urge Congressional Support for Early Alzheimer's Screening

A simple blood test can now detect Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear — a scientific milestone that could change lives.

I often think about how different of a life my grandmother Darlyne would have had, had we known earlier about her condition. My grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2021 before losing her battle in early 2025. She was on Medicare, and by the end of her four year battle it covered less than 25% of the costs associated with her care–a financial burden my family had to take on.

Thankfully, Senator Josh Hawley can play an important role in ensuring people in Missouri and across the country can benefit from early detection of Alzheimer’s, and ensure families do not have to face the same battles as mine. The bipartisan ASAP Act creates a pathway for Medicare coverage of FDA‑approved blood tests that detect Alzheimer’s biomarkers — tests that provide a more scalable approach than previous diagnostic pathways.

Under current law, Medicare cannot cover any dementia screening test for people without symptoms — a legal barrier only Congress can fix. The bill does not mandate coverage — it simply clears the roadblock so Medicare can evaluate these tests and make coverage possible.

The ASAP Act uses the same proven approach Congress just applied to cancer screening through the MCED Act, creating a pathway for coverage while allowing Medicare to use its evidence based process.

I am advocating on behalf of my grandmother Darlyne, my mother, my future grandchildren, and families not only across the state of Missouri, but across the nation, who know how challenging it is to receive a diagnosis. Early detection can offer patients and families more resources that lead to better outcomes.

Please join me and the Alzheimer’s Association in encouraging Senator Hawley to support the bipartisan Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act.

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