Abstract
Nearly six million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (AD), many with co-morbid medical conditions and depression. Recent healthcare reform has placed a greater emphasis on preventive services, cognitive screening, and quality measures for clinical care with a particular focus of addressing AD. Thus an accountable way to improve dementia detection, care, and patient- and family-centered outcomes is greatly needed. Early detection as a core element, coupled with treatments or preventative actions to reduce the burden of disease and provide benefits to the patient and family. Dementia detection may identify individuals in whom a disease has already begun and who may be experiencing mild clinical symptoms but have not yet sought out medical care. Here we review assessment methods and use of currently available biomarkers to improve detection of dementia.