New Guidelines Recommend Blood Tests Over Brain Scans for Alzheimer's Diagnosis

New Clinical Guidelines Advocate for Blood Tests Over Brain Scans in Alzheimer's Diagnosis Alzheimer's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, continues to pose diagnostic challenges, especially in early stages. Traditionally, imaging techniques like PET scans and cerebrospinal fluid tests have been employed, but these methods often come with high costs, limited accessibility, and patient discomfort. In recent years, blood-based biomarker (BBM) tests have emerged as promising alternatives; however, their diagnostic reliability varies, leading to potential misinterpretations. To address these concerns, the Alzheimer’s Association has issued its inaugural clinical practice guideline (CPG) dedicated to the use of blood tests in diagnosing Alzheimer's among patients with objective cognitive impairment in specialized memory care settings. Developed through a comprehensive review of 49 observational studies involving 31 different BBM tests—measuring biomarkers such as plasma phosphorylated tau (p-tau) and amyloid-beta (Aβ)—the guideline provides evidence-based recommendations aimed at optimizing clinical decision-making. The panel of experts, including neurologists, geriatr...