A Simple Blood Test Could Catch Alzheimer's Early — Congress Just Needs to Clear the Way

Dear Senator Hawley and Senator Schmitt,

This past summer, I interned with the Alzheimer's Association Greater Missouri Chapter, doing bilingual outreach to connect families across our state with information about Alzheimer's and dementia. Time and again, I saw how much earlier detection could have spared patients and families from the long-term toll on daily life—and how many homes across Missouri could benefit if more people understood the early signs.

That's why I'm asking you to support the bipartisan Alzheimer's Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act. The bill creates a pathway for Medicare to cover FDA-approved blood tests that detect Alzheimer's biomarkers—a simpler, more scalable option than the diagnostic routes families have relied on until now.

Right now, Medicare cannot cover any dementia screening test for someone without symptoms. That's not a clinical limitation—it's a legal one Congress can fix. The ASAP Act simply clears that roadblock, letting Medicare evaluate these tests through its normal evidence-based process, the same approach already used for cancer screening through the MCED Act.

More than 9 in 10 Americans say they'd want a simple test for Alzheimer's. Missourians deserve to get answers early. Please join the Alzheimer's Association in supporting the ASAP Act.

Sincerely,

Alexandra Tsygankov