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I thank the BDN editorial team for calling attention to the ASAP Act, which would provide access to early detection tests for Alzheimer’s, and Sen. Susan Collins for her incredible leadership. We met with her in June and also spoke with the staffs of Sen. Angus King and Rep. Jared Golden. I hope they decide to cosponsor this bill.
When my husband, Mike, was only 58, I knew something changed. He wasn’t forgetting names or repeating questions. Instead, he became apathetic and made decisions that were completely out of character. He got lost in areas he had known for decades.
Alzheimer’s never crossed our minds because his memory seemed intact. Thankfully, our doctor listened and shared my concern. The challenge wasn’t a lack of caring, it was a lack of tools. It took four years to receive his diagnosis.
Today is different. Blood tests can deliver accurate diagnoses faster, even identify those at increased risk of Alzheimer’s before symptoms occur. But people need access to benefit.
I often wonder how different our journey might have been if a blood test was available to us. We cannot change our family’s story. But we can change the story for families who are just beginning theirs. My hope is that because of research investments and the ASAP Act, today’s families won’t have to wait as long as we did.
If someone you love shows changes in judgment, behavior, memory, or the ability to navigate familiar places, trust what you are seeing. Talk with your healthcare provider.
Mary Hartt
Hermon