Alzheimer's Biomarker Screening Test Q&A
Health Nation asked Dr. Manisha Santosh Parulekar, M.D., questions about the Alzheimer’s biomarker screening test. Here's what to know.
ALZHEIMER'S & BLOOD BIOMARKER SCREENING TEST
Health Nation asked Dr. Manisha Santosh Parulekar, M.D., questions about the Alzheimer’s biomarker screening test. Here's what to know.
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common forms of dementia. Other forms of dementia include Vascular Dementia, Dementia with Lewy bodies disease and Mixed dementia (having two or more forms of dementia.)
Q: Who should consider scheduling an appointment for the Alzheimer's diagnostic blood test?
A: The new diagnostic blood tests for Alzheimer's are primarily intended for adults who are experiencing early symptoms of cognitive decline.
Symptoms that would warrant testing include, forgetting recent conversations, misplacing items more frequently, not able to do the tasks as before, having difficulty with the calendar, forgetting to pay bills, having difficulty finding the right words, repeating questions, or showing poor judgment.
These tests can be valuable in detecting key proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease, namely beta-amyloid and tau, directly in the blood. Previously, people seeking a diagnosis could only undergo more invasive and expensive procedures like a spinal tap or a PET brain scan.
Since early diagnosis and treatment can make a dramatic difference in treating the disease and possibly slowing its progression, the blood test can be a valuable tool. Unfortunately, many people are diagnosed years after the onset of symptoms.
Q: Who should NOT rush to get the test?
A: These blood tests are not currently recommended for general screening in people who do not have any symptoms.
The tests are not perfect and carry the risk of false positives and negatives, which could lead to unnecessary anxiety or false reassurance. A positive result indicates the presence of Alzheimer's-related proteins, but does not definitively mean a person has or will develop the disease.
Q: Can this blood test only diagnose Alzheimer’s, but not other forms of dementia?
A: The new blood tests are specifically designed to detect the biological markers of Alzheimer's disease by measuring levels of beta-amyloid and tau proteins.
Q: What are the other forms of dementia?
A: Other common types of dementia, such as Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and vascular dementia, have different underlying causes and may not be detected by these specific blood tests. To distinguish between different types of dementia, a doctor will use a combination of tools, including a thorough medical history, neurological exams, cognitive tests, and brain scans.
Q: What other considerations should be taken into consideration before getting the blood biomarker test?
A: The psychological impact of receiving a positive result can be significant, and individuals should be prepared for this potential distress. It is important that clinicians be prepared and trained to address the anxiety that people with a positive test result may experience.
This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.
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