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Getting an Alzheimer's diagnosis is already a long road — and a new study shows the wait just to see a neurologist is making it longer. A nationwide survey found patients with memory concerns wait an average of nearly 18 weeks for an initial neurology appointment, with some waiting over 6 months. Experts warn these delays push back testing, treatment, and eligibility for newer disease-modifying therapies.
Getting an Alzheimer's diagnosis is already a years-long journey — and a new study reveals that access to neurology care is a major bottleneck. A nationwide telephone survey of 150 neurology clinics found that patients with memory concerns wait an average of 17.9 weeks for an initial appointment. Specialized academic centers had even longer waits (21.1 weeks) compared to community clinics (15.6 weeks), and five clinics weren't accepting new patients at all.
Researchers from the Banner Alzheimer's Institute warn that these delays don't just postpone a diagnosis — they push back the entire care cascade, including testing, treatment planning, and eligibility for antiamyloid therapies that work best in early-stage disease. Waits were also longer in more densely populated areas, highlighting geographic disparities in access.
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Why it matters: With disease-modifying Alzheimer's treatments now available, early diagnosis is more critical than ever. A hub-and-spoke care model — where specialists support primary care physicians — along with blood-based biomarker screening could help ease the bottleneck before demand outpaces an already strained system.
