Trending
Growing up on Maui, I saw how difficult it could be for families to access specialized neurological care.
For many Neighbor Island residents, getting answers often means traveling to Oʻahu and navigating uncertainty while symptoms continue to progress.
Through my work with older adults living with dementia and Alzheimer’s advocacy in Hawaiʻi, I’ve seen how life-changing an early diagnosis can be, not only for patients, but for the families who care for them.
Hawaiʻi recently took an important step forward by establishing the HANAI Memory Network, which will expand access to memory clinics and dementia care services across the state, including Neighbor Island communities that have historically lacked the specialists and diagnostic resources available on Oʻahu.
Now Congress has an opportunity to build on that progress through the bipartisan Alzheimer's Screening and Prevention Act.
The ASAP Act would create a pathway for Medicare coverage of FDA-approved blood-based dementia screening tests, making early detection more accessible through primary care.
This is especially important for rural and Neighbor Island residents. Earlier screening means people can receive answers sooner, connect to memory clinics, access available treatments, enroll in clinical trials, and develop care plans before a crisis occurs. A diagnosis is often the gateway to support.
The need is immense. More than 90 percent of people with mild cognitive impairment, often an early stage of Alzheimer's disease, remain undiagnosed. Researchers estimate that roughly 7.4 million older Americans may have undiagnosed cognitive impairment.
Rep. Tokuda has been a strong advocate for improving health care access and reducing disparities for rural communities. By cosponsoring the ASAP Act, she can help ensure that the promise of Hawaiʻi's HANAI Memory Network is matched with the screening tools needed to identify people earlier and connect them with the care they deserve.
Mansa Devaki
Kula