Blood tests are a new way to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. These tests are not widely available yet and may not be covered by insurance.
These tests look for certain proteins in your blood that are often associated with changes happening in the brain. If you’re noticing significant memory problems or changes in your thinking, these tests can help doctors find answers.1
If you’ve noticed changes in your thinking ability or memory, talk to your healthcare provider by sharing your symptoms and asking about screening tests for Alzheimer’s. If you went through a BrainGuide questionnaire, your doctor may find the results helpful, but they will want to do more tests.
While blood tests are very important to early and accurate diagnosis, they are not meant to be used in place of a broader evaluation, including family history and PET-scans to guide next steps in care. (5) Primary care doctors can order blood tests; however, they are not recommended for routine use, only if a patient has symptoms and must be used alongside other forms of testing.6
- Follow-Up: Review your results with your doctor to determine next steps, such as additional tests or scans.
- Reducing your risk: Whether it’s Alzheimer’s disease or not, adopting brain-healthy habits—like a balanced diet, regular exercise, and mental engagement—can support brain health. It is never too late to start.
- Clinical Trials and Research: Explore opportunities to participate in clinical trials or research studies that advance Alzheimer’s care and treatments in all populations.
- https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/accurate-blood-test-alzheimer-s-disease
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9902574/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8749476/
- https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-symptoms-and-diagnosis/how-biomarkers-help-diagnose-dementia
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41582-024-00977-5
- https://aaic.alz.org/releases-2024/blood-tests-alzheimers-biomarkers.asp
- https://www.brightfocus.org/alzheimers/article/whats-next-alzheimers-diagnostic-tests/
- https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/accurate-blood-test-alzheimer-s-disease
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9902574/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8749476/
- https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-symptoms-and-diagnosis/how-biomarkers-help-diagnose-dementia
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41582-024-00977-5
- https://aaic.alz.org/releases-2024/blood-tests-alzheimers-biomarkers.asp
- https://www.brightfocus.org/alzheimers/article/whats-next-alzheimers-diagnostic-tests/
