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USC Brain Health Network reports faster dementia referrals, asks to double recurring funding to expand clinics
Summary
USC’s Brain Health Network told the Healthcare Subcommittee it has cut the referral‑to‑diagnosis cycle from months to about four weeks in active sites, has five clinics and asked the committee to raise recurring funding from $5 million to $10 million to expand into additional counties including Orangeburg.
The University of South Carolina’s Brain Health Network told the Healthcare Subcommittee that, since launching clinical services in January 2024, it has established five clinics, recorded several hundred patient visits and significantly shortened the referral‑to‑diagnosis cycle for dementia care in pilot areas.
Dr. Julius Fredericksen (vice president for research, University of South Carolina) introduced the network’s team and asked the committee to consider increasing the program’s recurring appropriation from $5 million to $10 million so the network can expand services, add diagnostic capacity and open a planned brain health center in early 2026.
Dr. Leo Bonilla, a neurologist on the team, told members the network follows national and American Academy of Neurology guidance to “defragment” dementia care: screen in primary care, complete blood work and imaging, provide cognitive assessment, and coordinate with specialists so primary care can continue longitudinal care. Bonilla said the network’s model reduced the typical referral cycle reported to the program—from about nine months—to roughly four weeks for patients who enter the network’s process. He said the program has completed about 411 patient visits so far, has 56 referring providers and projects about 1,200 patients served in the coming year.
The network described plans to open an outpatient brain health center that will house advanced diagnostic equipment, including what presenters said would be the state’s first clinical 7‑Tesla MRI scanner, and to add community health workers and social‑work supports to assist caregivers. Presenters said Orangeburg County ranks among the highest U.S. counties for diagnosed Alzheimer’s prevalence (cited as roughly 15.2% of residents age 65+ in the presentation) and that cardiovascular risk factors common in the Southeast contribute to dementia prevalence.
Members asked about causes, prevention and treatment. Presenters emphasized earlier diagnosis, management of cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol) and caregiver supports as practical steps to reduce burden. The network asked the committee to consider additional recurring funds to expand the model to other counties and to support the brain health center’s buildout.
No formal vote is recorded in the transcript. The presentation included patient and caregiver testimonials and data points from county‑level prevalence maps and national comparisons.
