A newly developed blood test for Alzheimer’s could prove to be a significant step forward for patients, doctors and dementia researchers. It has the potential to make diagnosis simpler and more accurate. The test determines whether signs of dementia are actually being caused by Alzheimer’s, or are instead the result of another condition. A blood test like this might also eventually be used to predict whether someone with no symptoms would develop Alzheimer’s. The test could be available for clinical use as early as 2023 if all trials are successful.  

The current Alzheimer’s diagnoses are often inaccurate because doctors have trouble distinguishing Alzheimer’s from other forms of dementia. This test would provide a readily accessible way to see whether people with cognitive issues actually had Alzheimer’s, rather than another type of dementia that might require different treatment. Dr María Carrillo, chief science officer at the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago (US) noted: “This test opens up the possibility of using a blood test to diagnose someone more definitely with Alzheimer’s. Five years ago I would have told you this was science fiction.”