Can annual wellness visits reduce disparity in early dementia diagnosis?

Data from analyses of Medicare beneficiaries newly diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment/Alzheimer's disease and related dementias suggested a positive association between Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) use and early diagnosis of cognitive impairment (CI).AWVs had modest but significant effects in reducing the sex and racial/ethnic disparity in early CI diagnosis.Further studies, including on cognition assessment, caregivers' preferences for AWVs, and the ways in which providers deliver AWVs, will help us better understand the effect of AWVs on reducing disparities in early dementia diagnosis.