Alzheimer’s blood tests are getting better, but still have a ways to go

The blood tests will not replace other diagnostic evaluations  

A vial of blood is put into a tube rack, with medical images of a brain in the background.

By measuring levels of key proteins in the blood, tests help doctors know whether a person has signs of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain.

Andrew Brookes/Image Source/Getty Images Plus

Alzheimer’s disease is hard to diagnose. But proteins in the blood might provide clarity.

A series of recent findings, presented at the annual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia and in research papers, raise the possibility of a simple blood draw to help doctors figure out if a person’s cognitive problems are caused by Alzheimer’s — or something else.

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