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May 28, 2025, News Staff — The AAFP this month issued new resources and CME for primary care clinicians working to educate patients about Alzheimer's diagnosis and cognitive care.
Leading these is a May/June FPM supplement titled “Blood Biomarkers and Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias.”
Noting primary care’s vital part in detecting Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), the supplement’s authors write: “While access to dementia specialists is limited, most Americans with ADRD receive routine care in primary care settings. Thus, integrating blood biomarker testing for AD-related pathology in primary care can provide an accessible pathway for early diagnosis and timely treatment.”
The article identifies several benefits of such testing in the primary care setting, including its
The authors add that primary care clinicians may find blood biomarker testing most useful for patients who
Cognitive Care in Family Medicine Settings is new, free CME designed to help family physicians effectively assess cognitive concerns, create care plans for newly diagnosed patients and support families navigating ADRD.
An additional new free CME on-demand activity is slated for mid-July. "Advances in Brain Health: Blood Biomarkers (BBMs) in Alzheimer’s Dementia (AD)” is designed to deepen understanding of emerging diagnostic tools. It will be available on the AAFP’s Free CME webpage.
New on the Academy’s Brain Health hub is the Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia: Shared Decision Making Guidance Tool. Download it for practical, evidence-based guidance, including how to tailor clinical conversations to individual patients.
The resources complement the AAFP Cognitive Care Kit, a suite of tools for family physicians, caregivers and family members caring for people experiencing, or at risk for, Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Primary care physicians often are the first to recognize signs of cognitive impairment and diagnose dementia. Some 5.8 million Americans have these conditions; experts say that number will climb to 14 million by 2060.
The Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease Hub on familydoctor.org also has three new elements to inform and guide patients, family and caregivers.
These resources are available in Spanish as well: