New test may help diagnose Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease has been notoriously difficult to diagnose, which can lead to some families attributing an ordinary change in behavior to the disease, or others not knowing that a loved one is suffering from the condition until it becomes severe. 


That may be about to change with the introduction of a new kind of blood test that is meant to identify Alzheimer's disease in its early stages, and tell it apart from other types of dementia.


"Until now, there has been no definitive diagnostic tool for Alzheimer's, other than postmortem analysis of brain tissue," says senior author Dr.

Vassilios Papadopoulos, director of the MUHC Research Institute. "Our clinical study shows that a non-invasive blood test, based on a biochemical process, may be successfully used to diagnose Alzheimer's."


This could prove to be a boon for families who are trying to decide whether a senior may need Alzheimer's care, and can also help older adults best plan for their future. Overall, many experts recommend moving to an assisted living community if dementia patients aren't getting the care they need at home.


In this facilities, residents can stay engaged and have a social life, all the while knowing that they are safe and can request help at any time.  


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