There currently is not a simple test that can diagnose Alzheimer’s.
The Alzheimer’s Association has detailed information on the various methods used currently that help physicians diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. Although there is no single test that proves a person has Alzheimer’s, a diagnosis can be made through a complete assessment that considers all possible causes.
There are several promising studies being conducted now to develop a definitive test for Alzheimer’s. Our affiliate, the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center (BUADC), a world-renowned Alzheimer’s research center funded by the National Institutes of Health, is involved with these two:
Avid Pet Scan Study: This groundbreaking study is using a new PET scan technique to measure the amounts of abnormal tau and amyloid proteins in the brain. It is a safe procedure, approved by the FDA
Diagnostic Study to develop a blood test: This has received a lot of media coverage but Dr. Robert Stern of the BUADC cautions that its implementation on a wide scale is still years away.
Visit the BUADC web site to see how you can participate in a research study or clinical trial.