RFK Jr. Calls for Alzheimer’s Screening Amid Expert Exclusion
WHO:
The Daily Beast - Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The Daily Beast - John Ruiz, a clinical psychology professor at the University of Arizona
The Daily Beast - Aaron Carroll, president and CEO of AcademyHealth
The Daily Beast - Ann D. Cohen, co-director of the University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
The Guardian - Emily Hilliard, a health and human services department spokesperson
WHAT:
The Daily Beast - Kennedy has called for better Alzheimer’s screening and criticized the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) for not meeting.
The Daily Beast - The USPSTF has not met since March 2025 and is scheduled to meet again in late August.
The Daily Beast - More than 7 million Americans are affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
The Guardian - An estimated 7.4 million Americans aged 65 and older live with Alzheimer’s.
The Guardian - About 200,000 Americans in middle age are also diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
The Guardian - The USPSTF typically meets three times a year.
WHERE:
The Daily Beast - The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is a national panel of experts on preventive care.
The Guardian - The University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center is located in Pittsburgh.
WHEN:
The Daily Beast - The USPSTF was poised to issue new guidance on cognitive decline in 2025.
The Daily Beast - The USPSTF has been unable to meet for roughly 17 months.
The Daily Beast - The USPSTF is scheduled to meet again in late August.
The Guardian - Kennedy criticized the panel in April.
WHY:
The Daily Beast - Kennedy has called the lack of early Alzheimer’s screening “regulatory malpractice.”
The Daily Beast - Experts warn that Kennedy could be attempting to remake the USPSTF in a way that is no longer evidence-based or scientific.
The Daily Beast - The Trump administration has slowed down Alzheimer’s research and funding.
HOW:
The Daily Beast - The USPSTF’s recommendations determine which preventive health screenings insurers must cover at no cost under federal law.
The Guardian - Alzheimer’s screening typically relies on the appearance of symptoms, followed by cognitive testing and potential imaging for diagnosis.
(UPDATED July 26, 2026 17:17 UTC)
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is calling for improved Alzheimer’s screening and has criticized the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force for not meeting since March 2025, with their next meeting scheduled for late August. Currently, more than 7 million Americans are affected by Alzheimer’s disease, including an estimated 7.4 million aged 65 and older, along with about 200,000 middle-aged individuals diagnosed with the condition. Kennedy has labeled the lack of early screening as “regulatory malpractice,” raising concerns among experts about the potential for the panel to shift away from evidence-based practices.