RFK Jr. Pushes for Alzheimer’s Screening While the USPSTF Remains Dormant

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has not convened since March 2025 after a political appointee dismissed two chairs and the administration left at least eight of the 16 seats vacant. The panel, which drafts recommendations that guide Medicare and Medicaid coverage, was slated to issue a Alzheimer’s-screening recommendation this year alongside 13 other preventive topics.

The Guardian

Panel member John Ruiz, a clinical-psychology professor, noted that “the evidence for cognitive screening for dementia is not great” and added, “You get 10 neurologists, you get 10 approaches on how they’re going to assess that – there’s no consensus. The evidence is mixed at best.” Columbia University’s Allison Aiello emphasized the current gap, saying, “There’s not like where you might go get a mammogram for breast cancer screening – there’s nothing like that set up for Alzheimer’s disease or cognitive impairment.”

The Guardian

Funding freezes imposed by the prior administration have hampered Alzheimer’s research centers. University of Pittsburgh researcher Ann D Cohen explained, “We had to cancel that because we had to use those funds to keep our clinic open,” and added, “There’s no way around the fact that science has been slowed down.”

The Guardian

Health and Human Services spokesperson Emily Hilliard affirmed that the department remains committed to Alzheimer’s research, citing the National Institutes of Health as the federal government’s largest funder, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ expansion of coordinated dementia care through the nationwide “Guide” model, and the Food and Drug Administration’s oversight of new therapies and diagnostics. She also noted ongoing programs for prevention, workforce development, caregiver support, and dementia-capable communities.

The Guardian

• “The evidence for cognitive screening for dementia is not great,” — John Ruiz, professor of clinical psychology, University of Arizona

The Guardian

• “You get 10 neurologists, you get 10 approaches on how they’re going to assess that – there’s no consensus. The evidence is mixed at best,” — John Ruiz

The Guardian

• “There’s not like where you might go get a mammogram for breast cancer screening – there’s nothing like that set up for Alzheimer’s disease or cognitive impairment,” — Allison Aiello, professor of health longevity and epidemiology, Columbia University

The Guardian

• “We had to cancel that because we had to use those funds to keep our clinic open,” — Ann D Cohen, co-director, University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center

The Guardian

• “There’s no way around the fact that science has been slowed down.” — Ann D Cohen

The Guardian