Blood Tests May Offer ‘Breakthrough’ in Diagnosing Alzheimer’s, but Will They Be Covered?

Blood-based marker tests (BBMTs) may help clinicians more accurately and easily diagnose people with Alzheimer’s disease and aid in identifying patients who could benefit from two recently approved disease-modifying therapies, according to a viewpoint article published on Sept. 30 in JAMA. The piece’s lead author tells AIS Health that BBMTs could potentially offer a “real breakthrough in access to testing” for Alzheimer’s, although she notes payers have yet to cover the tests and need more clinical evidence before paying for them. 

The FDA in July approved Kisunla (donanemab), a once-monthly, IV-infused treatment for people with early symptoms of Alzheimer’s. The agency’s decision occurred one year after it fully approved Leqembi (lecanemab), a similar Alzheimer’s drug. Kisunla and Leqembi both aim to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s by removing amyloid plaques from the brain.