Patients show strong interest in Alzheimer's blood tests despite medical skepticism
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Apr 27
Patients show strong interest in Alzheimer's blood tests despite medical skepticism
11 articles · Updated · NBC News · Apr 27
A Chicago-area survey of nearly 600 adults found 85% would take an Alzheimer's blood test if recommended, though most had never heard of the tests before.
Doctors remain cautious, citing concerns about test accuracy, limited treatment options, and potential distress from positive results, as FDA-approved tests are only for symptomatic individuals.
Experts note that while blood tests are easier and cheaper than PET scans, their predictive value is debated, and current drugs only slow, not cure, Alzheimer's, affecting about 7 million Americans.
Doctors say Alzheimer's blood tests are 'not ready.' Why do 85% of adults still want one?
Could a blood test become the 'mammogram' for Alzheimer's, or will cost and policy block access?
With no cure yet, is an early Alzheimer's diagnosis more of a burden than a benefit?
If a test labels you 'pre-Alzheimer's,' what are the risks for your job and insurance?
New 'clocks' predict Alzheimer's onset within years. Can science soon pinpoint the exact timeline for patients?
Leqembi slows Alzheimer's but risks brain swelling. How do patients weigh this life-altering trade-off?