Spotlight|August 4, 2026

As the number of families affected by dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases continues to grow, new policy efforts and research are sharpening the focus on how these diseases develop, and what can be done to better understand and potentially prevent them. Today, more than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, for example, and that number is projected to nearly double by 2050 as the population ages.

In California, as just one example, our (c)(4) affiliate is proud to support bipartisan bill SB 1047, legislation aimed at strengthening the state’s neurodegenerative disease registry by expanding it to include frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) and other dementias, while improving the public-health data available to researchers, clinicians, and policymakers. FTD is the most common form of dementia affecting adults under age 60, making improved surveillance especially important for understanding the full spectrum of neurodegenerative disease.

“The best solutions start with better understanding,” said End Chronic Disease CEO Kelly McKenna. “By strengthening California’s neurodegenerative disease registry, SB 1047 will provide researchers, clinicians, public health officials, and policymakers with stronger data to improve our understanding of these conditions and ultimately help improve outcomes for patients and families.”

The push comes as new research continues to shed light on both dementia risk and the changes that can precede a diagnosis. A recent Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health-led study of more than 5,300 adults, for example, found that those consuming the highest amounts of ultra-processed foods had a 58% higher risk of developing dementia and a 46% higher risk of cognitive impairment compared with those consuming the lowest amounts. Processed meats were associated with the highest risk, while greater consumption of minimally processed foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains was associated with lower risk.

A growing body of research also suggests that noncognitive changes can sometimes emerge years, or even decades, before memory problems become apparent. In Alzheimer’s disease, biological changes can begin 15 to 20 years before obvious cognitive symptoms, while changes involving sleep, walking, smell, and other functions may appear earlier in the disease process. Examples include:

• Depression
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Loss of sense of smell
• Slower walking
• Balance problems
• Weaker handgrip strength

Together, these developments underscore why stronger data, continued research, and greater attention to prevention are increasingly important as the country confronts the growing burden of neurodegenerative disease.

Read how this bill became law in our October update, follow our work on the News page, or sign up for our newsletter.