August 1, 2023 – Quest Diagnostics now offers the primary direct-to-consumer blood test for an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease, indicating risk for the disease years before symptoms appear.
“The AD-Detect test for Alzheimer’s on questhealth.com – the first consumer-available blood test that helps assess the potential risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease based on a brain protein that contributes to the disease,” Quest said in a Press release.
The test costs $399 and uses the identical technology because the test Quest made available to doctors last 12 months.
More than six million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease, probably the most common type of dementia, and that number is projected to rise to 14 million by 2060.
“One of the benefits of an amyloid test is that it may tell you that you are at risk for Alzheimer's years before symptoms appear,” Dr. Michael Racke, medical director of neurology at Quest, told Reuters.
The latest test is meant for people over 18 that suffer from mild memory loss or have a family history of Alzheimer's and who need to know more about their very own risk, Racke said.
“Users must first pay for the test on the Quest website,” Reuters reported. “A telemedicine professional verifies the purchase to ensure it is medically necessary and places an order on their behalf. Patients can review their results online and have the option to speak with a doctor at no additional cost.”
Reuters reported that test subjects wouldn't be eligible for further testing and possible latest treatments in the event that they didn't have symptoms.
Still, they might profit from certain behaviors equivalent to weight loss program and exercise to cut back their risk or delay the onset of disease, Racke said. They can also be eligible for studies on presymptomatic individuals.