Getting answers about Alzheimer’s has never been easy. For years, the path ran through a PET scan or a spinal tap — costly, invasive, and often a long drive to a specialist. In May 2025, the FDA cleared Lumipulse, the first blood test to help diagnose the disease. A positive result means a greater than 90 percent chance that amyloid plaque is present in the brain.
There are important limits. The test is cleared only for patients 55 and older who are already experiencing memory problems, and it is not a standalone diagnosis. Doctors interpret results alongside medical history and other assessments. Still, it reduces reliance on expensive procedures, and that matters in a region with one of Florida’s oldest populations.
The urgency is real. About 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, a number expected to nearly double by 2060. Treatments now exist that can slow the disease, and they work best when started early. One patient diagnosed in 2023 at age 68 joined a clinical trial and reports dramatic improvement. Have you talked with your family about memory concerns yet?
