When you are helping someone manage appointments, it can be hard to know where a conversation about memory belongs. A newly published study puts Medicare’s annual wellness visit in the spotlight, but its findings need a careful reading.
The useful takeaway is not “get more prescriptions.” It is to make room for questions and understand what kind of appointment your loved one needs.
What the new study found
Published October 27, 2026, in JAMA Network Open, the study examined records for 799,268 traditional Medicare beneficiaries aged 68 and older with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. It used a 2018 starting point, looking at wellness visits during the preceding three years and new dementia-medication prescription fills over the following year.
People with more wellness visits were more likely to fill a new prescription for certain dementia medicines. The study concerned memantine and medicines such as donepezil, not newer anti-amyloid treatments.
This was an observational study, not a trial. It cannot show that wellness visits caused the difference. People who attend these visits may differ in access to care or other ways. A prescription fill does not confirm that someone took a medicine, that it was appropriate for them, or that their memory or daily life improved. The study did not establish those benefits, and its findings may not apply to everyone, including people in Medicare Advantage. Read the original study.
What an annual wellness visit actually covers
The Medicare wellness visit is a prevention-planning conversation, not a routine physical or a complete dementia evaluation. It includes reviewing health history and prescriptions, and checking for signs of changes in thinking or memory.
If the provider suspects a problem, Medicare covers a separate, more detailed cognitive assessment. For specific health concerns, Medicare recommends scheduling a separate appointment rather than relying on the wellness visit alone.
Eligible people with Part B can have a wellness visit once every 12 months. Ask the office to confirm eligibility and timing. There is no charge for the covered visit when the provider accepts Medicare assignment, but additional services can bring separate costs. Medicare explains the benefit and its limits.
A simple checklist for the next appointment
You do not need to arrive with perfect notes. A few concrete examples and the questions that matter most to your family are a useful starting point. Involve the person receiving care in choosing those questions and deciding who accompanies them.
| Bring or prepare | A question to ask |
|---|---|
| A short list of changes, with examples and when they began | “Do these changes need a separate memory assessment?” |
| All medicines, over-the-counter products and supplements, with doses | “Can we review what each one is for and any concerns?” |
| The person’s priorities and your most important questions | “What should we focus on first?” |
| Notes about any proposed treatment | “What benefit are we hoping for, what are the risks, and how will we review it?” |
| A place to record the plan | “What happens next, and whom should we contact with concerns?” |
Checklist prepared by DementiaHelp.io using the Alzheimer’s Association’s guidance on working with the doctor and Medicare’s wellness-visit information. It is an appointment aid, not a diagnostic test.
If confusion suddenly becomes worse, seek prompt medical attention rather than waiting for an annual appointment. The Alzheimer’s Association specifically flags sudden worsening confusion as a reason to contact a doctor right away. See its appointment and warning-sign guidance.
Keep the goal personal
A prescription count cannot tell a family whether care is meeting their loved one’s needs. Use this news as a conversation starter, not a reason to request a particular drug. A helpful outcome from an appointment can be a clearer explanation, a follow-up plan and a chance for the person receiving care to be heard.
For help beyond appointments, explore our care and support resources. If repeated questions are part of daily life, our guide to responding when someone with dementia repeats the same question offers another practical place to start.
This article is for general education and does not replace individualized medical advice.
