There are new blood tests for Alzheimer’s. Should I have one?

New blood tests for Alzheimer’s won’t give you an instant diagnosis. Here’s what they’ll tell you instead.

Recent advancements have led to the introduction of blood tests for Alzheimer's disease in Australia. While these tests hold promise for earlier, simpler, and more accessible diagnosis, it is essential to understand what they entail, who they are for, and what their results may mean. At present, these blood tests cannot definitively diagnose Alzheimer's disease but rather indicate the likelihood of brain changes associated with the condition.

The most widely discussed test identifies a protein called phosphorylated tau 217 (pTau217), which closely reflects the brain changes seen in Alzheimer's. However, doctors will still interpret these results alongside a person's symptoms, medical history, cognitive testing, neurological examination, and brain imaging or cerebrospinal fluid analysis, as many other conditions can affect memory and thinking.

These blood tests are not suitable for routine screening in healthy adults without symptoms, as they may lead to false positives and out-of-pocket costs. Instead, they are most appropriate for individuals experiencing persistent cognitive symptoms, those with mild cognitive impairment, or those being assessed for possible Alzheimer's disease.

Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.