In this episode of Minding Dementia, we continue our conversation about how Alzheimer’s disease is diagnosed today. While a definitive diagnosis can still only be confirmed through autopsy, modern medical tools now allow physicians to diagnose Alzheimer’s with up to 90% accuracy while a person is living.

Building on our previous discussion about PET scans, this episode walks through the additional diagnostic tools doctors use to better understand cognitive changes and rule out other causes of memory loss.

We discuss how physicians combine:

1. Medical history and neurological exams
2. Neuropsychological testing for memory, language, and problem-solving
3. Blood tests to rule out other conditions
4. Brain imaging such as CT, MRI, and PET scans

No single test can diagnose Alzheimer’s. Accuracy comes from using multiple tools together to build a clearer picture.

We also explore the growing role of biomarkers, measurable indicators found in blood, spinal fluid, and brain imaging that help identify Alzheimer’s-related changes such as beta-amyloid plaques and tau proteins.

In May 2025, the FDA approved Lumipulse, the first blood test to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. This test:

1. Is approved for adults 50 and older with early cognitive symptoms
2. Can rule out Alzheimer’s with over 96% accuracy
3. Is less invasive and more affordable than PET scans or spinal taps
4. Is used alongside other diagnostic tools, not as a standalone test

Earlier and more accurate diagnosis allows individuals and families to plan ahead, explore treatment options, access clinical trials, and better understand next steps.

While no test is 100% definitive without autopsy, today’s diagnostic tools provide meaningful clarity and guidance.

Resources

1. Psychology Today – Alzheimer’s Diagnosis Overview https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/more-than-caregiving/201103/can-alzheimers-disease-only-truly-be-diagnosed-upon-an-autopsy
2. National Institute on Aging – Biomarkers & Dementia https://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers
3. Northwestern Medicine – Alzheimer’s Diagnosis https://www.nm.org/neurosciences/alzheimers-disease
4. The Lancet – Alzheimer’s Research https://www.thelancet.com

About the Host:

Author Lisa Skinner is a behavioral specialist with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. In her 30+year career working with family members and caregivers, Lisa has taught them how to successfully navigate the many challenges that accompany this heartbreaking disease. Lisa is both a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is also a certified dementia care trainer through the Alzheimer’s Association. She also holds a degree in Human Behavior.

Her latest book, “Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s – Its Secret Faces” continues Lisa’s quest of working with dementia-related illnesses and teaching families and caregivers how to better understand the daunting challenges of brain disease. Her #1 Best-seller book “Not All Who Wander Need Be Lost,” was written at their urging. As someone who has had eight family members diagnosed with dementia, Lisa Skinner has found her calling in helping others through the struggle so they can have a better-quality relationship with their loved ones through education and through her workshops on counter-intuitive solutions and tools to help people effectively manage the symptoms of brain disease. Lisa Skinner has appeared on many national and regional media broadcasts. Lisa helps explain behaviors caused by dementia, encourages those who feel burdened, and gives practical advice for how to respond.

So many people today are heavily impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The Alzheimer's Association and the World Health Organization have projected that the number of people who will develop Alzheimer's disease by the year 2050 worldwide will triple if a treatment or cure is not found. Society is not prepared to care for the projected increase of people who will develop this devastating disease. In her 30 years of working with family members and caregivers who suffer from dementia, Lisa has recognized how little people really understand the complexities of what living with this disease is really like. For Lisa, it starts with knowledge, education, and training.

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