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New Alzheimer's Blood Tests Not Yet Ready
12 Sep
Summary
- Blood tests for Alzheimer's are not recommended for asymptomatic individuals.
- Lifestyle choices like healthy diet and exercise lower dementia risk.
- Controlling high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking significantly reduces risk.
New blood tests that may predict Alzheimer's years before symptoms emerge are available but not yet recommended for those without cognitive issues. While some tests are FDA-cleared to aid diagnosis in symptomatic patients, specialists advise against their use in the 'worried well' outside research settings. These tests can reflect protein markers associated with Alzheimer's, but a positive result is a risk factor, not a definitive diagnosis.
Dementia experts emphasize focusing on potentially preventable risk factors for brain health. A significant study highlighted that individuals who reached middle age without high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking lived nearly 13 years longer without dementia. Aggressively managing these conditions, even in middle age, offers substantial benefits.
Healthy lifestyle choices, including moderate exercise, resistance training, and a MIND diet rich in greens, berries, and whole grains, have been shown to slow age-related cognitive decline. Experts also recommend adequate sleep, avoiding social isolation, treating hearing loss, and engaging in mentally stimulating activities. What's good for the heart is strongly linked to brain health.
