Brain Health Navigator Program

Geographic Scope: United States (6 pilot sites)

Focus Areas:

• Intuitive coordination between patients and providers along the brain-health pathway
• Early detection of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease
• Disease-modifying therapy access and eligibility
• Clinical trial participation
• Care coordination and patient navigation
• Educational components on brain health and post-diagnostic care

Eligible Applicants:

• Healthcare systems
• Healthcare providers at multiple settings

Selected Pilot Sites:

• Dartmouth Health (New Hampshire)
• Memorial Healthcare (Owosso, Michigan)
• Norton Healthcare (Kentucky)
• Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group (California)
• UC Health (Ohio)
• Keck Medical Center of USC, part of Keck Medicine of USC (California)

Program Duration: Multi-year implementation

Key Features:

• Brain Health Navigators connect patients with local resources
• Support for healthcare providers from frontline patient interactions to diagnosis
• Educational components on brain health and post-diagnostic care
• Six pilot sites serve as start-up incubators
• Development of materials and best practices for long-term sustainability and expansion
• Designed to operate without external funding after initial phase
• Incorporates learnings into DAC-SP Early Detection Blueprint
• Materials to be incorporated for national-level scalability

Funding Partner:

• Eisai, Inc. - provided funding for the program

Background:

• Every day, over 2,000 patients in early stages of Alzheimer's progress to later stages
• Current diagnostic pathways are slow and cumbersome
• Multiple stakeholders must coordinate rapidly for eligible patients to access disease-modifying therapies
• Diagnostic journey delays prevent families from accessing available care options