Disrupting Dementia: Overcoming System-Level Hurdles from Diagnosis to Care

There has been a myriad of scientific breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of dementia in recent years. Blood-based biomarkers are enabling earlier detection before significant symptoms; AI-powered analytics are mining health records for new insights; wearable devices are detecting early warning signs; and AI-driven drug discovery is accelerating therapeutic development. Despite this, millions of people at risk for and living with dementia still face a long, convoluted journey from the first signs of cognitive or behavioral changes to receiving an accurate, timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment and care. The greatest barriers are systemic, not scientific: fragmented care pathways, regulatory and reimbursement lags, workforce constraints, and limited clinician and public awareness. This session will trace the full arc, from early disease identification to treatment, trials, and support. It asks, what will it take to truly disrupt dementia by ensuring these scientific breakthroughs reach the people who need them when it matters most?