There is promising news in research into early identification of Alzheimer’s disease.

A blood test was more than 90% accurate in identifying Alzheimer’s in patients with cognitive symptoms at primary care and specialized memory care clinics.   

That was one of the findings from the 2024 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.

Beth Smith-Boivin, executive director of the local Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern NY, attended the event. She was encouraged by the research.

“It has huge implications if we had a single affordable, accessible test, like a blood test, for Alzheimer’s disease, it would allow more people to be diagnosed early, which is key to these early and novel new treatments that we have, and it would allow more people to engage in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease, which would further advance the science,” she said.

In addition, families knowing earlier about their diagnosis would enable their ability to plan, to talk about wishes with their loved ones, so the implications of an accessible affordable test is just enormous,” Smith-Boivin added.