The tests aren’t a guarantee that someone will develop dementia, but that hasn’t stopped people from getting them. By Dana G. Smith
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Dr. Richard Isaacson was recently featured in a New York Times article exploring the growing use of blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease and the questions surrounding their use in people who have no cognitive symptoms. The article highlights how elevated levels of p-tau217 can indicate Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain, but also how difficult it can be for patients to understand what those results actually mean for their future.
Dr. Isaacson spoke specifically about the importance of testing accuracy and sample quality, noting that he sees “false positives every week.” He described cases where results may have been affected by factors including improper sample handling, rhabdomyolysis and kidney disease. In one example, he believes a blood sample collected before the July 4th holiday may have been compromised when the dry ice melted during shipping, potentially altering the sample and producing a false positive.
The Times also notes that Dr. Isaacson develops brain biomarker tests at AlzLabs in Florida, bringing his experience in both preventive neurology and biomarker testing to the discussion. While positive results can understandably cause anxiety, Dr. Isaacson and other experts emphasize that an elevated biomarker is not a diagnosis or guarantee of future Alzheimer’s dementia. Instead, patients should work with their physicians to interpret results carefully and focus on modifiable factors such as exercise, nutrition and blood pressure.
