Thanks to the hard work of AIM advocates and strong bipartisan support from legislators in Illinois, the Prairie State recently added privacy protections for sensitive biomarker information under the existing Genetic Information Privacy Act.  

With Senate Bill 2886 now signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker and set to take effect on January 1, 2027, Illinois residents can seek biomarker testing without the fear of being discriminated against or that their medical data will be misused.  

This comes at a critical moment for our cause. Until recently, invasive and costly tests, like lumbar punctures and PET imaging, were the only way to identify Alzheimer’s biomarkers. Scientific advancements have led to FDA-cleared blood tests that can accurately assist clinicians in diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease. These tests measure the presence of amyloid plaques or the ratio of amyloid to tau proteins, the hallmarks of the disease, in a more affordable and far less invasive way. 

As these biomarker tests continue to advance and become more widely available, it’s more important now than ever to ensure tests results cannot be used to deny an individual employment opportunities or be used by health insurance plans to discriminate against an individual.  

Illinoisians and people across the country are growing increasingly interested in knowing about their risk of developing Alzheimer’s. According to an Alzheimer’s Association survey, 91% of Americans say they would want to take a simple test to detect biomarkers before symptoms of the disease manifest. 

Today’s Alzheimer’s treatments are most effective when used in the earliest stages of the disease. This makes early detection and diagnosis critically important to slow cognitive decline, improve health outcomes, and allow those living with the disease to make proper plans with their loved ones. 

We applaud Governor Pritzker and bill sponsors Senator Bill Cunningham and Representative Maurice A. West for their leadership in safeguarding the privacy of Illinois residents and protecting those impacted by Alzheimer’s from discrimination.  

This victory wouldn't have been possible without our dedicated volunteer advocates. We thank them for raising their voices and sharing their stories.  

Learn more about AIM’s work in improving access to early Alzheimer's detection and diagnosis in states across the country.