Some exciting news for us on the Most Worthy Grand Matron’s Special Project – Alzheimer’s: 12/25:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared a plasma test for use in the primary care setting, specifically to rule out the presence of amyloid plaques— a core hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. The test is intended for use in adult patients, aged 55 years and older, presenting with signs or symptoms of cognitive impairment. By providing an efficient, less-invasive method to assess the likelihood of the plaques, the test can help primary care physicians determine which patients do not require Alzheimer’s-related follow-up tests, such as PET scans or cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and can significantly improve the diagnostic process by preventing unnecessary specialized testing for individuals whose cognitive issues stem from non-Alzheimer’s causes. This approach also empowers primary care clinicians to guide referrals more effectively, allowing specialists to focus on patients most likely to require advanced evaluation and care. The vision of the Alzheimer’s Association is “a world without all other dementia”.