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May 3, 2026 · 9:00 am

Study finds most people support an Alzheimer’s blood test

A new study found that while many people are not aware of the scientific advances made in blood-based biomarker tests for Alzheimer’s, most support their availability and would be willing to take the test upon their doctor’s recommendation.

I recently wrote about how dried blood samples captured on a card could allow people to do an at-home test for Alzheimer’s biomarkers. But I knew I had written about such blood tests before then, so I dug into The Memories Project archives and sure enough, I found a post from 2014. I didn’t realize it had been 12 years since I had written about the potential for a blood test to diagnose Alzheimer’s. It’s a stark reminder of how long scientific progress can take to reach the general public. As the HealthDay article points out, only a couple of blood tests that check for levels of amyloid and tau proteins in a person’s bloodstream have been approved by the FDA and are not yet ready for widespread use.

The latest study captured the opinions of nearly 600 people, average age 62, from the Chicago area. Over half had a close relative who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. While 84 percent of those surveyed were unaware of blood biomarker tests, 94 percent said it was important to offer such tests to those with suspected memory or cognitive issues. And on another promising note, 85 percent of those surveyed would be willing to take such a test if it was recommended by their doctor.

Getting that public approval is key to maximize the value of screening tests. The study also found that 60% of those surveyed felt it was important to offer blood-based biomarker tests for Alzheimer’s to those age 65 and older on an annual basis.

The study identified potential barriers for blood test adoption, and cost, test reliability, and concerns about the consequences of receiving a positive result were among the top concerns. I would also be concerned about cost and whether the test would be covered by health insurance, as well as reliability. But my opinion about taking such a test hasn’t changed since 2014: I would definitely take such a test. With dementia on both sides of my family tree, I think it’s important to capture any changes in cognitive health as early as possible. The current Alzheimer’s treatments on the market work best for those in the early stages of the disease. Earlier diagnosis gives people the opportunity to make decisions about their future care and to take advantage of quality time with family before significant cognitive decline.

If you have questions or concerns about Alzheimer’s screening options, talk to your doctor.

How dried blood spots could be valuable in large-scale Alzheimer’s screening initiatives

Over 10 years ago, I wrote about an experimental blood test being tested that could help predict a person’s risk of developing dementia over the course of the next few years. There have been a lot of developments in the blood test space since then. This month, the Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry wrote about new research exploring a promising, low-cost option for large-scale Alzheimer’s screening: dried blood spots.

Not that long ago, the idea that Alzheimer’s could be diagnosed with a blood test seemed like a major breakthrough, since prior to that, diagnosis either came post-mortem or an invasive spinal tap procedure. There are cognitive-based tests that doctors use to screen for dementia, such as the clock test, but those are not as definitive in nature as a blood test for Alzheimer’s biomarkers, which was approved by the FDA in 2025.

But blood tests still present challenges, requiring a medical professional to draw the sample, and then proper handling to ensure the same remains viable until it reaches the testing laboratory. Researchers in Europe brainstormed on how to simplify the procedure and are now actively testing a process that uses dried blood spots. A person takes the blood sample themselves at home, using a finger prick method. The sample is collected on a card, allowed to dry, and then mailed into a laboratory. Early results are promising, with high accuracy rates, but more work needs to be done to perfect the process.

One interesting point that researchers noted was that people in the study didn’t like the finger puncture, so a different collection method involving the upper arm is being explored. The issue with finger punctures may have led to more sample failures than desired. I know when I used a finger prick test at home (to check my cholesterol level), the first time it worked fine, but the second time, I struggled to get a proper sample and I received notice from the lab that my sample couldn’t be used. It was a frustrating experience and I ended up going to a medical clinic for a traditional blood draw.

Still, if the process becomes reliable and affordable, I strongly prefer at-home tests. Such a test would open up dementia screening for underserved populations and help people access treatment options earlier.

Image generated by Google Gemini.