three women of color of different ages

Annual wellness visits, cognitive function, and early dementia diagnosis

Sep 4, 2026, 10:04 AM by Roxann Grover

Could an annual wellness visit help catch memory problems earlier? A recent study found that older adults who received their Medicare Annual Wellness Visit were more likely to have mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an early stage of memory and thinking changes, identified sooner. Early detection can help people and their healthcare providers address factors that may affect brain health and plan for future care if needed.

Authors include Elizabeth Kim, Mukaila Raji, Efstathia Polychronopoulou, Huey-Ming Tzeng, Sadaf Arefi Milani, and ong-Fang Kuo.

Read the article, Annual wellness visits, cognitive function, and early dementia diagnosis, at the Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics.