Video visits with dementia specialists can cut months off the wait

Getting in to see a dementia specialist can take several months to more than a year, and longer in rural areas. Some families are now skipping that line with video visits. One man in New Mexico went from his first online appointment to his first treatment in about six months.

The long wait

Catherine Patterson saw the cost of waiting up close. Her mother showed signs of memory decline, including a 2022 incident when she forgot to pick up her 4-year-old granddaughter from preschool. A memory clinic referral led to a one-year wait. The visit happened in fall 2024. A diagnosis of Alzheimer's came in summer 2025, after more testing, a later visit with a neuropsychologist and a brain scan.

"Earlier diagnosis means you have more options," says Patterson, acting COO of the nonprofit UsAgainstAlzheimer's.

A faster path by video

Stephen Hightower, 73, is a retired geriatrician in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. He noticed he was forgetting things he should know, and Alzheimer's runs in his family. His primary care doctor had little experience with memory loss, and his local health system had only three neurologists, none of them dementia experts.

Then the system partnered with Synapticure, a company that provides neurological care by video. His first online visit, in December 2025, lasted more than two hours. Tests followed in February, close to home, and confirmed mild to moderate Alzheimer's. In May a neurologist recommended a monoclonal antibody drug, which aims to slow the disease. Infusions every two weeks began in June.

Timing matters here. These treatments work only when started at an earlier stage of the disease.

What to check first

• Synapticure works in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and no referral is needed.
• It takes Medicare parts A and B, some Medicare Advantage plans and a small number of private plans.
• Call your insurer to confirm coverage before booking.
• MyBrainGuide.org, run by UsAgainstAlzheimer's, added a search for telehealth providers in mid-2026.

Limits to keep in mind

The article offers two family stories, not a study comparing video care with in-person care. Juan Rodriguez of AARP says virtual care can improve access and convenience, but works best as part of a flexible model that includes in-person evaluation and treatment when needed.

Video has perks. Dr. Glen Finney of Geisinger Health says seeing patients at home gives him a better window into their real-world functioning. The Hightowers also like that any of their four adult children can join a visit. Tests such as scans and blood work still happen in person, near home.