{"id":28215,"date":"2025-05-21T14:13:22","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T14:13:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=28215"},"modified":"2025-05-21T14:31:01","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T14:31:01","slug":"a-blood-test-for-alzheimers-what-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=28215","title":{"rendered":"A Blood Test for Alzheimer\u2019s: What to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><\/div>\n<p id=\"article-summary\" class=\"css-79rysd e1wiw3jv0\">The test may make it easier to identify whether people with memory and thinking problems have Alzheimer\u2019s or not.<\/p>\n<section class=\"meteredContent css-1r7ky0e\">\n<div class=\"css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn\" data-testid=\"companionColumn-0\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">A blood test that can help diagnose Alzheimer\u2019s disease has received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration. This is a step toward a goal of scientists and doctors to one day be able to diagnose a confounding illness with the prick of a finger. But there is still a long way to go.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Here is what to know:<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"css-13o6u42 eoo0vm40\" id=\"link-65060e55\">What is the test, and how should it be used?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The test, manufactured by Fujirebio Diagnostics,<span class=\"css-8l6xbc evw5hdy0\">  <\/span>is intended to be used only by specialists in Alzheimer\u2019s, the F.D.A. said. Its mouthful of a name \u2014 Lumipulse G pTau217\/\u00df-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio \u2014 describes what the test measures: levels of two proteins, amyloid and tau, that are hallmarks of Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">In people who develop Alzheimer\u2019s, amyloid begins to accumulate and form plaques in the brain more than 20 years before any symptoms of cognitive impairment. Tau accumulates later, forming tangles in the brain, and is much more closely correlated with cognitive decline.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"css-13o6u42 eoo0vm40\" id=\"link-5c27f38e\">Can people who don\u2019t have memory problems take the blood test?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">No. The F.D.A., and Alzheimer\u2019s experts, emphasized that the blood test should be given only to people who are already experiencing cognitive decline and are ages 55 and older. Moreover, it should not be used on its own to diagnose or to rule out Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"Dropzone-1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn\" data-testid=\"companionColumn-1\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cOther clinical evaluations or additional tests should be used for determining treatment options,\u201d <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/news-events\/press-announcements\/fda-clears-first-blood-test-used-diagnosing-alzheimers-disease\" title rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">the F.D.A. said<\/a> in a statement, adding that \u201cthe results must be interpreted in conjunction with other patient clinical information.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The current gold standard for diagnosing Alzheimer\u2019s still involves either imaging using PET scans, which are expensive, or spinal taps, which are invasive. The blood test can help flag the presence of the Alzheimer\u2019s-related proteins, and doctors might then order confirmatory testing with one of the other methods.<\/p>\n<div class=\"css-kbghgg\">\n<div class=\"css-121kum4\">\n<div class=\"css-171quhb\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-asuuk5\">\n<div class=\"css-7axq9l\" data-testid=\"optimistic-truncator-noscript\">\n<div data-testid=\"optimistic-truncator-noscript-message\" class=\"css-6yo1no\">\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">We are having trouble retrieving the article content.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1dv1kvn\" id=\"optimistic-truncator-a11y\">\n<hr \/>\n<p>Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/myaccount.nytimes.com\/auth\/login?response_type=cookie&amp;client_id=vi&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F05%2F21%2Fhealth%2Fblood-test-alzheimers.html&amp;asset=opttrunc\">log into<\/a>\u00a0your Times account, or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F05%2F21%2Fhealth%2Fblood-test-alzheimers.html\">subscribe<\/a>\u00a0for all of The Times.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1g71tqy\">\n<div data-testid=\"optimistic-truncator-message\" class=\"css-6yo1no\">\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">Thank you for your patience while we verify access.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">Already a subscriber?\u00a0<a data-testid=\"log-in-link\" class=\"css-z5ryv4\" href=\"https:\/\/myaccount.nytimes.com\/auth\/login?response_type=cookie&amp;client_id=vi&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F05%2F21%2Fhealth%2Fblood-test-alzheimers.html&amp;asset=opttrunc\">Log in<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">Want all of The Times?\u00a0<a data-testid=\"subscribe-link\" class=\"css-z5ryv4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2025%2F05%2F21%2Fhealth%2Fblood-test-alzheimers.html\">Subscribe<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The test may make it easier to identify whether people with memory and thinking problems have Alzheimer\u2019s or not.A blood test that can help diagnose Alzheimer\u2019s disease has received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration. This is a step toward a goal of scientists and doctors to one day be able to diagnose a confounding illness with the prick of a finger. But there is still a long way to go.Here is what to know:What is the test, and how should it be used?The test, manufactured by Fujirebio Diagnostics, is intended to be used only by specialists in Alzheimer\u2019s, the F.D.A. said. Its mouthful of a name \u2014 Lumipulse G pTau217\/\u00df-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio \u2014 describes what the test measures: levels of two proteins, amyloid and tau, that are hallmarks of Alzheimer\u2019s disease.In people who develop Alzheimer\u2019s, amyloid begins to accumulate and form plaques in the brain more than 20 years before any symptoms of cognitive impairment. Tau accumulates later, forming tangles in the brain, and is much more closely correlated with cognitive decline.Can people who don\u2019t have memory problems take the blood test?No. The F.D.A., and Alzheimer\u2019s experts, emphasized that the blood test should be given only to people who are already experiencing cognitive decline and are ages 55 and older. Moreover, it should not be used on its own to diagnose or to rule out Alzheimer\u2019s.\u201cOther clinical evaluations or additional tests should be used for determining treatment options,\u201d the F.D.A. said in a statement, adding that \u201cthe results must be interpreted in conjunction with other patient clinical information.\u201dThe current gold standard for diagnosing Alzheimer\u2019s still involves either imaging using PET scans, which are expensive, or spinal taps, which are invasive. The blood test can help flag the presence of the Alzheimer\u2019s-related proteins, and doctors might then order confirmatory testing with one of the other methods.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and\u00a0log into\u00a0your Times account, or\u00a0subscribe\u00a0for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber?\u00a0Log in.Want all of The Times?\u00a0Subscribe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28217,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28215","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28215","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28215"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28215\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28218,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28215\/revisions\/28218"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/28217"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28215"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28215"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28215"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}