PFCD and Axios Live: The Future of Alzheimer’s

On Thursday, November 6th, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Diseases (PFCD) and Axios Live led a crucial conversation in Washington, D.C. on recent momentum in Alzheimer’s care and research. The event brought together more than 75 bipartisan lawmakers, health leaders, and advocates to spotlight advances in treatment and diagnosis, and to discuss pressing policy needs as Americans face an unprecedented Alzheimer’s burden. ​ 

Alzheimer’s Impact 

More Americans are living with Alzheimer’s than ever, and the cost to families and to our country continues to climb. The human impact is especially clear in the personal stories shared throughout the discussion.  

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) explained how his father was diagnosed at just 58 and lived with him for ten years, noting, “I know the impact of caregiving and what it costs to take care of a loved one.”  

PFCD’s Vice President of Policy Candace DeMatteis shared similar challenges, describing the strain her mother faces in accessing treatment: “For her, it’s a three-hour drive to get treatment… once a week… She just decided, ‘No, I can’t do that.’… And she lives near an urban area in North Carolina - so can you imagine someone that’s more rural?” She emphasized that “these are real issues that people are facing” and underscored the need for urgency from policymakers.  

As Candace put it, “All of us are affected… Our risk factors are going up. We need greater urgency from the Hill - NIH funding, Medicare coverage, and the like. There are really a lot of opportunities.” 

Enabling Breakthrough Progress 

In recent years, scientific progress has offered new hope – the FDA has approved innovative treatments to slow disease progress, new blood tests are helping to improve detection efforts, and data shows that  lifestyle changes can help improve brain health.  

The conversations made one thing clear: the Alzheimer’s landscape is rapidly changing, and there is a need to make sure policies keep pace with these changes. Joanne Pike, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association, called this “an incredible moment within Alzheimer’s treatment and research and the progress that we’ve been making.” She emphasized, “the pace of that progress has really been increasing over the last few years.”  

PFCD’s Candace DeMatteis underscored the significance of recent breakthroughs, “We’re all eager for the cure…but it’s so important to recognize how far we’ve come, the decades of experience that have led up to this, the billions of dollars invested to get us to this place…we just need the policy candidly to keep pace with that.” 

Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL) expressed his optimism, saying, “We’re going to continue to push as much as we can,” and noted the bipartisan enthusiasm for more investment and innovation in Alzheimer’s research. Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) echoed the urgency behind that effort, emphasizing that failing to act would carry both humanitarian and economic costs, warning that the disease “will break the bank” if left unaddressed. He emphasized the importance of advancing policy to expand Medicare coverage for emerging blood-based biomarker tests, calling the ASAP Act a key step toward funding research that can accelerate progress for patients and families. 

Voter Poll Findings on Alzheimer’s  

Recent polling data from Fabrizio Ward reinforces that prioritizing Alzheimer’s prevention and access to treatments resonates with voters of all backgrounds, especially in battleground districts: 

• Over nine in ten voters support streamlining Medicare to allow easier access to FDA-approved treatments that slow Alzheimer’s progression. 

• 90% favor requiring Medicare coverage of blood tests able to detect Alzheimer’s. 

• 92% believe the federal government should act on prevention steps for brain health, such as better eating, exercise, and sleep. 

• 87% of voters would credit the administration with a “major achievement” if Medicare covers blood detection tests and facilitates easier access to treatments. 

  
  

Looking to the Future 

Voters have made themselves clear: progress is mandatory, not optional. Delays tied to restrictive policies – for example, Medicare’s Coverage with Evidence Development (CED) requirement for FDA-approved therapies – hinder access for thousands whose treatment window closes each day. Leaders in Washington should ensure new diagnostic and treatment tools are available to every family, in every ZIP code, towards a brighter future for Alzheimer’s.