WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bipartisan bill cosponsored by Congressman Josh Riley (NY-19) to help rural families get faster, more accurate diagnoses of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. The Accelerating Access to Dementia and Alzheimer’s Provider Training (AADAPT) Act (H.R.3747) helps primary care providers better identify, diagnose and manage Alzheimer's disease and other dementias—particularly in rural and underserved communities.

“More than seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, but in rural communities like ours, getting a timely diagnosis can be a real challenge,” said Riley. “An early diagnosis helps families plan, gives patients more treatment options, and leads to better health outcomes. This bill makes sure providers across Upstate New York have the training they need to catch Alzheimer's and other dementias early, and get folks connected to the care they need.”

Around 426,500 New Yorkers aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, only half of those living with Alzheimer’s have received a diagnosis, and 85% of initial diagnoses are made by primary care providers who do not specialize in dementia.

The AADAPT Act addresses this gap by connecting primary care providers with specialists through virtual training, mentorship and case-based learning. Because primary care providers are often the first health care professionals patients see when memory loss begins, expanding access to specialized training can help improve early diagnosis and patient outcomes.

Full text of the bill can be found at this link.