National Alzheimer’s Collaborative
Prioritizing Cognitive Health and Destigmatizing Early Detection
A national initiative working with leading healthcare organizations to accelerate the timely and accurate diagnosis of early Alzheimer’s Disease.
About the National Alzheimer’s Collaborative (NAC)
What is NAC?
A multi-site healthcare initiative focused on improving early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Designed to translate evidence-based practices into real-world clinical workflows.
Led by implementation science experts and healthcare systems committed to improving dementia care.
Focused on scalable, sustainable solutions that can be replicated nationally.
The urgency
Why This Matters
Millions of people living with Alzheimer’s disease are diagnosed too late.
Primary care providers are often the first point of contact for patients experiencing cognitive concerns.
Advances in diagnostic tools and biomarker technologies are rapidly transforming Alzheimer’s care.
Care delivery for Alzheimer’s disease often involves multiple specialities and fragmented processes.
Healthcare organizations across the country are facing similar challenges related to early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.
By identifying and scaling successful care delivery models, the collaborative aims to improve early detection and diagnosis for patients nationwide.
Initiative Goals
The NAC aims to:
Reduce time from first symptoms to confirmed diagnosis.
Increase use of evidence-based cognitive screening tools.
Improve referral pathways from primary care to specialists.
Expand appropriate use of biomarker diagnostic tools.
Improve coordination between primary care, neurology, and memory care.
Develop scalable pathways for healthcare systems nationwide.
Our Approach
Agile Implementation Science
The NAC uses a structured implementation model to improve care delivery:
Discovery and workflow assessments across participating sites.
Localized improvement plans tailored to each health care system.
Agile implementation sprints to test and refine care pathways.
Real time data measurement and feedback loops.
Development of Minimum Standard Operating Procedures (MSOPs).
Dissemination of tools and lessons learned.
Key Areas of Focus
The NAC is focused on improving care across the Alzheimer’s diagnostic pathway.
Primary Care Screening
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Standardizing cognitive screening for patients 65+.
Embedding screening workflows into routine care visits.
Referral Optimization
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Improving coordination between primary care and specialists.
Reducing unnecessary delays in referral pathways.
Diagnostic Innovation
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Expanding access to biomarker-based diagnostic tools.
Supporting providers in identifying appropriate candidates for testing.
Care Coordination
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Strengthening collaboration across multidisciplinary teams.
Supporting patient and caregiver navigation.
Measuring Impact
The NAC tracks key performance indications across participating sites.
Clinical Impact
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Reduction in time from symptoms to diagnosis.
Increased use of screening tools.
Increased biomarker-based diagnoses.
Operational Impact
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Improved referral efficiency.
Reduced specialist wait times.
Improved care coordination across teams.
Provider Experience
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Increased provider confidence in diagnosing early Alzheimer’s disease.
Improved workflow satisfaction.