Time is Now: Advancing Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis & Care

Imagine watch someone you love slowly lose their memories, forgetting names, faces, and moments that once defined their lives. That’s the reality for millions living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative condition and the leading cause of dementia.

Despite its devastating impact, AD it often goes undiagnosed. On average, it takes nearly three years from the onset of symptoms to receive a diagnosis. Shockingly, up to 75% of people living with dementia worldwide may never be diagnosed at all. But there is hope. New disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), offer the potential to slow the progression of AD, if the disease is caught early enough. These scientific advancements transform what early diagnosis could mean for patients - opening the door to care, planning, and support when it matters most.  

Time is Now is a call to action, that builds on Lilly’s long-standing commitment to addressing Alzheimer’s disease. This initiative amplifies a critical message: with scientific innovation accelerating and new treatments emerging, the moment to act is now. Healthcare systems must now rise to the challenge by  ensuring early, accurate and equitable access to AD diagnosis and care. This urgent call was echoed throughout the recent EURACTIV-hosted webinar, where experts from across Europe shared and discussed real-world insights into the barriers that delay diagnosis and what must change to overcome them. Their message was clear: early diagnosis is no longer a distant goal, but an achievable possibility. 

At the heart of the campaign is a new multi-national survey capturing real-world insights from clinicians across Europe and beyond. The findings highlight a number of key barriers that stand between patients and an early diagnosis of AD. One major challenge is the widespread misconception that memory loss is a normal part of aging; 43% of specialist say patients consider cognitive decline as part of normal ageing. Such misconceptions, together with the prevailing stigma against dementia, can lead to a delayed recognition of AD symptoms and reluctance to seek medical advice. At the same time, nearly 40% of primary care professionals report that they lack confidence in diagnosing AD and require access to further training and diagnostic tools to better identify AD in its early stages. Additionally, referrals to specialists are often slow and might cause on average a delay of five months in the diagnosis. Biomarker testing, which can detect key biological changes in the brain and help confirm a diagnosis of AD in its early stages, remains significantly underused: only 20% of patients receive a biomarker test to confirm AD pathology despite its recognised value.

“While most clinicians are open to innovation, many are held back by systemic constraints,” said Catherine Reed, Senior Director at Lilly. “The data is clear: people with AD are still waiting too long.” In Spain, for example, patients referred from primary care to a specialist often waited nearly 29 weeks to receive a diagnosis, one of the longest delays seen in the survey. For individuals and their families, securing a early diagnosis of AD is more than a medical milestone; it’s a critical window of opportunity. When AD is identified in its early stages, people can take an active role in shaping their future while they still have the cognitive capacity to do so. Earlier diagnosis could enable individuals to make informed decisions, preserve their independence, and access the care and support they need on their own terms. “Behind every delayed diagnosis is a person struggling without answers,” said Angela Bradshaw from Alzheimer Europe. “A timely diagnosis, delivered with care and coupled with post-diagnostic support, can bring clarity and hope.” By prioritizing timely diagnosis, we honor not just the medical needs of those affected by AD, but their autonomy, dignity, and voice. 

Positively the new survey points to clear, actionable solutions. To deliver earlier and equitable access to AD care, we need to focus on 4 key priorities: strengthen primary care pathways: improve clinical training, referral processes, and system capacity. Scale up biomarker testing: broader use of biomarkers can support earlier and more accurate diagnosis, helping people access care when it can make the most difference. Tackle stigma: many individuals delay seeking help due to fear. Reducing stigma is essential to encourage timely engagement to healthcare. Ensure innovation reaches patients: early diagnosis, must be matched with equitable access to emerging treatments so that those who may be eligible could benefit from early intervention.  

“Some centres are already making progress,” said Dr. Jort Vijverberg from Alzheimer Center Amsterdam. “But we need regulators and policymakers to ensure system-wide change. If we don’t act now, more people will be left behind.” The solutions and data are already in our hands. What’s needed now is decisive, coordinated action to turn potential into progress.  

Improving the lives of those living with AD takes more than scientific breakthroughs – it requires strong investments in Healthcare Systems. Governments must prioritise early diagnosis by funding systems that recognise its urgency and ensures fair access to care for everyone, everywhere. Equity means more than making innovation available, but also guaranteeing that every individual has the chance, and the right to benefit from it.  

To policymakers across Europe: the opportunity to lead is within reach and the responsibility to act is shared. By working together we can move closer to make early diagnosis not just an idea but a standard of care.  The Time is Now.