AMGA Launches Initiative to Improve Brain Health Assessment and Follow-Up within Primary Care

Alexandria, VA – AMGA announced the launch of a quality improvement initiative aimed at improving the routine use of brain health discussions, assessments, and follow-up within primary care. Partnering with four leading health systems—Ballad Health, Eventus WholeHealth, Kelsey Seybold, and Sharp Health—AMGA seeks to address gaps in early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

ADRD is the fifth leading cause of death for Americans aged 65 and older, with the number of impacted individuals expected to double by 2060, growing from 6.9 million to 13.4 million. Currently, barriers to routine use of brain health discussions, cognitive assessment, and follow-up care within primary care include insufficient coordination and collaboration across multidisciplinary teams, limited provider knowledge and confidence administrating and interpreting cognitive screening tools, and lack of standardized and integrated workflows. The AMGA initiative seeks solutions to increase early detection and diagnosis of ADRD and MCI across the country. This activity is supported by a healthcare improvement initiative grant from Lilly. 

“As our population ages and new treatment options emerge, early detection of MCI and ADRD becomes critical,” said AMGA Senior Vice President of Research Elizabeth Ciemins, PhD, MPH, MA. “Healthcare organizations need standardized and accessible assessment tools to identify conditions sooner, enabling faster intervention and care planning for this vulnerable population. By focusing on primary care, we aim to improve early detection and treatment access––ultimately supporting patients living with dementia to remain in their homes as long as possible."

The 21-month initiative will engage multidisciplinary teams—including primary care, geriatricians, neurologists, psychiatrists, and health services researchers—to identify root causes and implement targeted interventions. Standardized outcome measures will benchmark progress, and findings and best practices will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, white papers, and AMGA’s extensive network.

“Systemic barriers within healthcare can hinder patients’ access to the evidence-based care they deserve for Alzheimer’s disease,” said Jessie Fahrbach, MD, senior vice president, Global Medical Affairs, Lilly Neuroscience. “At Lilly, we are committed to advancing patient care and proud to support this initiative to improve how Alzheimer’s disease is identified and managed.”

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About AMGA
AMGA is a trade association leading the transformation of healthcare in America. Representing multispecialty medical groups and integrated systems of care, we advocate, educate, innovate, and empower our members to deliver the next level of high performance health. AMGA is the national voice promoting awareness of our members’ recognized excellence in the delivery of coordinated, high-quality, high-value care. More than 175,000 physicians practice in our member organizations, delivering care to one in three Americans. 

AMGA represents medical groups and integrated systems of care. Its diverse membership includes multispecialty medical groups, integrated delivery systems, accountable care organizations, and other entities committed to improving healthcare outcomes. AMGA advocates for the formation of innovative, clinically integrated systems of care that advance population health, enhance patient experience, and reduce healthcare costs. For more information, please visit www.amga.org.