Key findings: Primary care as the frontline for Alzheimer’s detection
A multinational survey conducted by Eli Lilly and Company among 400 neurologists across France, Italy, Spain and Germany shows a clear push for early action. The study reports that 83% of neurologists want primary care physicians to act sooner when patients present memory complaints, enabling earlier detection and timely referral to specialists.
Efforts to streamline the process are also widely supported: 82% call for improvements in the referral pathway, while almost nine in ten (approximately 87%) believe that integrating new diagnostic innovations into everyday practice will enable diagnoses at earlier stages. These findings underscore a shared belief that early detection can translate into noticeably better care options for patients and families facing dementia.
Additional emphasis on proactive assessment appears as 77% of respondents advocate for healthcare professionals to conduct more proactive memory inquiries. Taken together, these figures position primary care as a critical, and previously underutilized, entry point in the Alzheimer’s care continuum.
Why early detection matters
Neurologists argue that timely identification of Alzheimer’s disease opens doors to treatment strategies, support services, and planning that can significantly improve outcomes. The report notes that a majority see early detection as offering “significantly better” care possibilities for patients and their families, with the potential for improved quality of life and more effective use of available therapies.
Nevertheless, the survey also reveals a tension: while many neurologists trust in rapid advances, more than half express that the current regulatory and approval processes create a gap with countries where access to new therapies is faster. Still, a large majority (83%) agree that pharmaceutical innovation will considerably benefit patients, and 67% stress the need for early detection programs, including biomarker-based screening in blood, to make screening more feasible in routine care.
Barriers to timely detection: stigma and knowledge gaps
Stigma and the minimization of symptoms emerge as major barriers to early diagnosis. An alarming 97% report that patients and families often try to hide or downplay signs during initial consultations. In addition, 53% indicate that stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s and dementia affects healthcare professionals’ willingness to pursue early diagnostic and treatment options.
Experts warn that this disconnect between specialist expectations and primary care realities risks delaying crucial care. “These findings highlight an urgent need to break the stigma and strengthen the role of primary care in early detection to transform Alzheimer’s care,” said Dr. Stéphane Epelbaum, Associate Vice President for Medical Affairs International at Eli Lilly.
Towards faster access and better screening
In parallel with calls for more proactivity at the primary level, the survey notes optimism about diagnostic and therapeutic innovation. A substantial majority (83%) of neurologists agree that innovation in diagnostics and therapies will meaningfully benefit patients and families, while 87% believe that incorporating new diagnostic tools into routine practice will enable earlier diagnoses. Yet many also recognize that simply accelerating regulatory approvals is not a silver bullet; most respondents believe a holistic approach is required to improve early detection and care, including better education, resourced primary care, and patient engagement.
Looking ahead, two-thirds (67%) of neurologists advocate implementing early detection and screening programs, especially through blood-based biomarkers. The data suggest a framework in which primary care, rapid referral, patient and family education, and timely access to new tools work in concert to transform the trajectory of Alzheimer’s disease.
What needs to happen next
Experts call for concrete actions: invest in primary care training on cognitive complaints, standardize memory assessments in primary care clinics, and streamline referral workflows to memory clinics. They also stress the importance of public and professional education to reduce stigma and empower patients to seek help earlier. While progressing on regulatory fronts, policymakers and health systems should ensure that access to diagnostic innovations and new treatments keeps pace with clinical advances.
Ultimately, closing the gap between specialist expectations and frontline realities will require collaboration across care levels, resources for clinicians, and patient-centered programs that normalize memory concerns as a treatable, actionable health issue rather than a stigma-laden fate.
Conclusion
The survey signals a pivotal moment for Alzheimer’s care, with neurologists urging primary care to take bolder, earlier steps. By reframing memory concerns as a medical priority and accelerating access to diagnostics and therapies, health systems can move toward a future where early detection changes lives for the better.
