In a new report, researchers from the Milken Institute have issued a proposal aiming to improve early detection and diagnosis of dementia.

The report, “Building Dementia Workforce Capacity to Improve Screening and Diagnosis,” details three key themes that emerged from a roundtable of experts, which included longtime AFTD collaborator Katie Brandt of Massachusetts General Hospital’s FTD Unit. According to a May 12 article published in McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, the experts outlined the need for more promotion of timely detection of cognitive impairment in primary care settings.

Nora Super, executive director of the Milken Institute’s Alliance to Improve Dementia Care, said in the article that “early detection and diagnosis of dementia can allow individuals and their families to plan for the road ahead.”

Through this report, Super and her team aim to “equip healthcare professionals with proven tools and resources to detect and diagnose dementia in a timely manner, encourage individuals to pursue cognitive screenings to track their brain health, and offer guidance for policymakers on best practices and existing solutions,” she said.

The report also highlights other initiatives such as increasing awareness and education of healthcare professionals and consumers as well as broadening access and interprofessional coordination in detection, diagnosis, and care delivery.

Read the full McKnight’s Long-Term Care News article here.