Faster, cheaper, better: the rise of blood tests for Alzheimer’s
Circulating biomarkers are quickly becoming a crucial part of diagnosis and disease monitoring for physicians, researchers — and even some consumers.
Ellen was on a cycling holiday in September 2023 when her memory and thinking skills began to falter. Riding behind her husband on their bright green tandem bike through the rolling hills of Europe’s Iberian Peninsula, Ellen found herself struggling to follow simple navigation cues.
When she returned home to Missouri, Ellen (who asked that only her middle name be used) underwent a comprehensive evaluation, including a new blood test designed to detect proteins linked to the plaques and tangles in the brain that characterize Alzheimer’s disease. The results confirmed what her friends and family had quietly feared: Ellen was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, a devastating form of dementia that erodes memory and affects millions of people worldwide.
Her clinician quickly prescribed her an antibody therapy designed to impede the disease’s progression. Now, Ellen’s cognitive decline has slowed, and she is looking forward to another tandem cycling adventure this year, ahead of her 71st birthday. “We feel really fortunate,” says her husband. The timely diagnosis, accelerated by the speed and convenience of blood testing, enabled prompt treatment that has given Ellen a chance to maintain her quality of life for longer.
Ellen’s experience highlights the growing promise of blood-based testing for Alzheimer’s.
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