Alzheimer's disease

Previously, hearing the words “Alzheimer’s disease” may have caused worry and a sense of being powerless. Did you know a simple blood test from Quest can measure amyloid ratio? This ratio measures levels of 2 biomarkers, where certain ratio results may suggest a risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. This can potentially guide important conversations with your doctor to help monitor any changes in your health so you can take action.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for an estimated 60% to 80% of cases.¹ The disease can slowly destroy memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. People with Alzheimer’s also experience changes in behavior and personality.

If you’re 65 years or older^a and notice some issues with your memory or finding the correct word, it’s important to recognize that not all people with memory issues have Alzheimer’s. Other causes may include normal aging, certain medications, mild cognitive impairment (ie, memory and thinking difficulties beyond normal aging but not significant enough to impact activities of daily living), or other medical conditions.

Doctors use several methods and tools to help determine if a person with thinking or memory problems has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. These include memory tests, psychiatric evaluation, brain scans, and other standard medical tests to rule out other causes.

A screening test from Quest may be right for you if you have 1 or more of the following risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease:

Treatments are emerging to lessen the impact of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and there is growing evidence that healthy lifestyle choices may also reduce risk.²