Maximizing Early Dementia Detection Through Medicare Annual Wellness Visits
Márlon Juliano Romero Aliberti, Thiago Junqueira Avelino‐Silva, Cláudia Kimie Suemoto
Abstract
Early detection of cognitive impairment is a critical public health concern, directly affecting the quality of care and life for millions of older adults.Globally, approximately 57 million people live with dementia, including an estimated 6.7 million US individuals aged 65 years or older with Alzheimer disease. 1 As life expectancy increases, the prevalence of dementia is expected to double by 2050, emphasizing the urgent need for early detection strategies.The economic burden is substantial, with costs projected to exceed $1 trillion annually by 2030.Despite this, up to 60% of dementia cases go undiagnosed in primary care, highlighting the importance of systematic screening efforts to ensure more cases are identified promptly. 1,2eng et al 3 showed the critical role of annual wellness visits (AWVs) in the early identification of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) among Medicare beneficiaries.They analyzed data from over 549 000 Medicare beneficiaries in Texas, revealing that AWVs were associated with a 21% increase in the likelihood of receiving an MCI diagnosis and a 4% increase in the likelihood of receiving an ADRD diagnosis.The study also found that those who received AWVs received a diagnosis of MCI approximately 76 days earlier than those who did not receive AVWs.These findings underscore the importance of AWVs in facilitating early diagnosis and timely management of cognitive impairment in older adults.