It’s a tough question to think about, but it could yield a life-altering response depending on how you decide. If you’re having memory or word-retrieval problems, or in some other way are beginning to experience symptoms that may reflect cognitive decline, would you want to know if you are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s? According to a recent survey conducted by the Alzheimer’s Association, the overwhelming majority of adults 45 and older would gladly take a blood test if they were in that situation, in order to learn whether Alzheimer’s might be in their future. Over 90% of respondents said they would take a blood test or some other simple test if that would allow them to know their status, and just as many said they would probably or definitely want to take a drug that could slow down the progression of the disease if that were available. More than half said they’d be willing to take the drug even if it had a moderate or high risk of side effects. For more on this survey, roll up your sleeve, make a fist, and look here.

You may recall that there are now 2 drugs available that, in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, appear effective in slowing down the progression of cognitive decline by as much as 30%. Both drugs, Kisunla and Leqembi, while seemingly effective in slowing down disease progression, also seem to carry a risk of side effects, including serious concerns about brain swelling and brain bleeding. However, a new study published in JAMA Neurology appears to offer some reassurance that these serious side effects occur rarely and are manageable among recipients who have very mild or mild Alzheimer’s. The key to the value of these drugs, however, is initiating them as early in the course of Alzheimer’s as possible. And that’s why the news about a new FDA-approved blood test for helping to diagnose Alzheimer’s is so important.

This new blood test is the first test that the FDA has approved to assist in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. You may remember that before blood tests, the best way to confirm an Alzheimer’s dementia diagnosis was through either a PET scan or a spinal tap, both of which are expensive, not easily accessible, and invasive. Since the opportunity to use one of the available medications rests on an early Alzheimer’s diagnosis, that has meant only a limited number of individuals have been able to gather sufficient evidence to make them candidates for these drugs. However, this new blood test, called Lumipulse and manufactured by the Japanese company Fujirebio Diagnostics, will likely vastly increase the number of potential recipients of these new drugs, as it will become much easier to detect Alzheimer’s based on symptoms and biomarkers. The blood test will be available for physicians who treat Alzheimer’s to administer, but it is only intended for adults aged 55 and older who are experiencing signs or symptoms of Alzheimer’s. The test is not intended as the sole determinant of someone having Alzheimer’s (clinicians are advised to also conduct neurological or cognitive testing), but in clinical trials the blood test has been highly accurate in demonstrating the presence of amyloid plaques (indicating Alzheimer’s), as well as highly accurate in confirming that the patient does not have such plaques. The blood tests work by measuring the amount of Tau and Beta Amyloid in the blood, and a ratio is then developed based on those two measurements to determine the presence or absence of Amyloid plaques in the brain. The cost of the blood test has not yet been released, nor has the determination of insurance coverage been disclosed. Judging from the aforementioned survey, however, there will likely be a big demand for this blood test. The worry is that it will be misused for people not yet exhibiting signs of disease. To be clear, this blood test is NOT a screening test for healthy people who are just concerned they are at risk for Alzheimer’s. But it is a potential game-changer for those who have symptoms and could benefit from early intervention to slow disease progression. 

Finally, while this new blood test reflects an exciting milestone in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s, we know that prevention through lifestyle changes is also an important tool for lowering your risk or limiting the number of cases of Alzheimer’s diagnosed. Along those lines, in addition to the myriad recommendations we’ve previously highlighted about lowering your risks, comes a new study examining the impact of sitting on your risk for dementia, even if you otherwise engage in regular exercise. According to this study, excessive sitting can lead to brain shrinkage, even if you get in your 150 minutes of recommended exercise each week. The study results suggest that excessive sitting or a sedentary lifestyle may be an independent factor increasing your risk of Alzheimer’s, separate and apart from a lack of exercise. In this study of 400 adults aged 50 and above, 87% of the participants did meet the recommended exercise criteria, yet that didn’t prevent them from being at increased risk if their lifestyle was otherwise sedentary. So, get off the couch, stand up, and read more about this study here.