Unfortunately, there are no blood tests to screen for dementia. In fact, there are no tests of any kind that can make the diagnosis of dementia, while a person is alive. The diagnosis is made by a medical doctor (MD) who takes a history, performs a physical exam, and does some cognitive testing, which includes things like assessing memory, concentration and language skills. Frequently, the physician will also order some routine blood tests to ensure there are no other medical conditions that could interfere with memory - like diabetes, thyroid problems or infections. The MD might also order a CT scan or MRI of the brain to look for evidence of strokes, or patterns of brain shrinkage that could help identify if a specific type of dementia is more likely than another.
The search for a blood test which accurately identifies Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia is an active area of research, though no tests developed so far are sufficiently accurate.
Professor Nathan Herrmann
Nathan Herrmann MD FRCPC
Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Lewar Chair in Geriatric Psychiatry
Head, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
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