Each June, Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month calls attention to the importance of brain health and the critical need for early and accurate detection of Alzheimer’s disease and related conditions. Early detection can lead to earlier treatment, better care planning, and improved quality of life—but far too many Americans are still waiting too long.

Median diagnostic delays for cognitive impairment range from 1.5 to 3.2 years, and only 54% of patients receive a timely diagnosis within three years before or one year after symptom onset. Early signs are often mistaken for normal aging — 32.5% of caregivers initially dismiss symptoms — and more than 60% of people with cognitive impairment later regret delays in diagnosis.

This is a public health issue. As new treatments and more accessible diagnostic tools, like blood tests, emerge, the benefits of early detection are clearer than ever. Making cognitive detection a routine part of care for older adults — just like mammograms or cholesterol checks — can help reduce stigma and give individuals the best chance to take action early.