Iowa's 1st mobile memory clinic launches today
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Photo: Courtesy of Broadlawns Medical Center
A memory mobile clinic — believed to be Iowa's first — launches today in Polk County, offering free evaluations and Alzheimer's-related biomarker testing.
Why it matters: Central Iowa's older population is growing rapidly, and about one in nine Americans over 65 is living with Alzheimer's dementia.
The big picture: Mobile memory clinics are part of a broader push to bring earlier screenings and support directly to older adults who may struggle to access traditional care.
- Early diagnosis may allow some patients to access medication that can help with symptoms or slow disease progression.
Catch up quick: Broadlawns Medical Center is launching the clinic with a specially equipped van and with the assistance of a $45,000 county grant.
- It will travel to senior centers and community events in Polk County, providing on-site early-detection services, cognitive testing, caregiver support and blood draws for memory loss-related biomarker testing.
How it works: The clinic is launching in phases and initially focusing on community outreach and education.
- Clinic staff expect to assist 15-20 people per month with screenings once they begin in the coming weeks and will return to sites about a month after an initial visit to review results with participants.
- Clinic locations and schedules will be posted on the hospital's social media.
The fine print: The clinic's outreach and education are free, but the hospital may still bill insurance companies for formal screenings and bloodwork when applicable, Jonathan Brendemuehl, director of the Broadlawns Foundation, tells Axios.
Context: Similar mobile memory programs have launched elsewhere, including a Minnesota clinic focused on memory screenings for communities of color, but Broadlawns officials say theirs is believed to be Iowa's first.
Stunning stat: An estimated 7.4 million Americans 65 and older are living with clinical Alzheimer's dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association's 2026 report.
Zoom in: In Iowa, about 62,100 people ages 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's, representing about 11% of the state's older adults, according to the association's 2026 state report.
What they're saying: The clinic will help reach underserved residents who can be difficult to identify or serve through traditional care settings, Polk County Supervisors' Chairperson Matt McCoy said in a video.
Bonus: When the unit is not being used for memory care, it will support other Broadlawns services, including immunizations, McCoy said.
If you go: The public launch of the clinic is at an event starting at 2:30pm today at the Polk County Westside Community Center.
- 134 6th St. in West Des Moines