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WEKU
Jon Hamilton

Blood tests can help diagnose Alzheimer's — if they're accurate enough. Not all are

Newer blood tests can help doctors diagnose Alzheimer's disease without a brain scan or spinal tap. But some tests are more accurate than others. (Tek Image/Science Photo Library/Getty Images)

A new generation of blood tests is poised to change the way doctors determine whether patients with memory loss also have Alzheimer's disease.

The tests detect substances in the blood that indicate the presence of sticky amyloid plaques in the brain — a hallmark of Alzheimer's. So these tests have the potential to replace current diagnostic procedures, like costly PET scans and uncomfortable spinal taps.

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