Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) have reintroduced the bipartisan CHANGE Act, a bill designed to improve early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The legislation is also backed in the House by Representatives Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), Darren LaHood (R-Ill.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), and Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.).
The CHANGE Act, short for Concentrating on High-Value Alzheimer’s Needs to Get to an End, would use Medicare’s initial and annual wellness visits to help screen for Alzheimer’s and related dementias in their earliest stages.
Senator Capito said the bill focuses on practical steps such as earlier screening to help patients and ease burdens on caregivers. Senator Warner, whose mother had Alzheimer’s, emphasized that early diagnosis improves access to treatment and support.
Representative Sánchez, who lost both parents to the disease, noted that early assessments can make a critical difference for families. LaHood called for stronger Medicare tools to support patients and caregivers, while Matsui stressed that early intervention helps prolong quality of life. Bilirakis highlighted the personal toll of the disease and the need for earlier education and care planning.
The legislation is supported by groups including the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, American Academy of Neurology, and UsAgainstAlzheimer’s.
About 7.2 million Americans over 65 are living with Alzheimer’s in 2025, with that number projected to nearly double by 2060. Costs related to the disease are expected to reach $1 trillion by 2050.
Advocates say the CHANGE Act is a step toward catching the disease earlier, allowing patients to access care sooner and take part in treatment options and clinical trials.