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Health Secretary Urges Better Alzheimer Screening, Blames USPSTF

7/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urged better Alzheimer’s screening and called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force “lackadaisical and negligent.”
The task force, which advises Medicare and Medicaid, has not met since March 2025 after a political appointee fired two chairs and left eight vacancies.
John Ruiz, a University of Arizona professor and former USPSTF member, said evidence for dementia screening is mixed and research funding is needed.

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Story summary

U.S. health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urged better Alzheimer’s screening and called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force “lackadaisical and negligent.”
The task force, which advises Medicare and Medicaid, has not met since March 2025 after a political appointee fired two chairs and left eight vacancies.
John Ruiz, a University of Arizona professor and former USPSTF member, said evidence for dementia screening is mixed and research funding is needed.