On May 10th, in celebration of Mother’s Day, something extraordinary unfolded at Insight Hospital & Medical Center on the South Side of Chicago. In partnership with Neurogen Biomarking (Neurogen), the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation (GAP), and the incredible team at Insight, Linus Health helped provide free cognitive assessments and blood-based biomarker testing to nearly 200 individuals in just a few hours. But what resonated most wasn’t the volume — it was the people, the purpose, and the promise this moment holds for the future of brain health.

A community ready to lead

The South Side’s Black and Brown community showed up — not just in numbers, but in spirit. The individuals who came to participate in the screening were warm, thoughtful, engaging, and clearly pillars of their neighborhoods. Their eagerness to proactively engage in their brain health underscored a truth we too often overlook in national conversations: this community is ready to lead in advancing brain health equity. They are not waiting to be helped; they are ready to partner, to participate, and to push forward.

From cost to contribution: A shift in perspective

Much of the national discourse around dementia focuses on cost. The Schaeffer Center recently projected that dementia-related care will exceed $1.5 trillion by 2050 — a staggering figure. But standing in the atrium of Insight Hospital that morning, what I saw wasn’t a cost to be managed. It was value to be preserved.

These seniors are caregivers, church leaders, mentors, and memory-keepers. They are the anchors of their families, the pillars of their communities, and their ability to remain fully engaged holds immeasurable societal worth. It is not  just about detecting disease early or to treating illnesses — it is about helping people achieve their life goals and purpose. Our job is to preserve this intergenerational fabric, this civic vitality, this human capital. That’s the brain economy in action.

Diagnosis in a single appointment

This event showed us what’s now possible. With today’s technology — including Linus Health’s digital cognitive assessments and pTau-217 blood tests — we can detect whether someone is experiencing cognitive difficulties, predict their risk of having Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or dementia, and determine if it’s likely due to Alzheimer’s before noticeable symptoms even begin. Historically, that journey took 2–3 years after symptom onset. We did it in a matter of hours.

That’s not just progress. That’s transformation.

The blueprint: A brain health service line

Health systems must recognize what this event demonstrated: it is now clinically, economically, and societally imperative to create brain health service lines. The tools exist. The clinical pathways are becoming clearer. And as we saw on May 10th, the community demand is real.

Importantly, this work shouldn’t rest solely on physicians. Allied health professionals can collect the necessary data using our platform and a simple blood draw, enabling providers to deliver diagnoses and staging with confidence. The burden doesn’t have to be heavy — it just has to be coordinated.

Teamwork that made it all possible

This event was a shining example of what’s possible when aligned organizations come together around a shared mission. The collaboration among Insight Hospital, Neurogen, GAP, and Linus was seamless, mission-driven, and full of heart. My deepest thanks to each of these teams — this work wouldn’t have happened without you.

The road ahead

This Mother’s Day reminded me that the most meaningful healthcare innovations aren’t about technology alone. They’re about trust, relationships, dignity, and presence. If we continue to meet people where they are — with tools that work and respect that’s earned — we won’t just reduce costs, we’ll expand the possibilities.

Let’s build a future where brain health is not a luxury, but a foundation. A future where every community, every person, has access to clarity, care, and hope.

We’re not just detecting disease — we’re preserving dignity, purpose, and the pillars of our communities.
— From our Mother’s Day Capturing Memories event in Chicago

Meet our expert

This article is written by David Bates, PhD.

David is the CEO and co-founder of Linus Health. He is a scientist, engineer, inventor, entrepreneur and investor.