New Clinical Guidelines: How Doctors Will Use Blood Tests for Alzheimer's (9/28/25)
The Alzheimer's Association releases first-ever evidence-based guidelines for blood biomarker testing, bringing standardized diagnosis closer to reality.
Following the FDA's approval of blood-based biomarker tests earlier this year, the Alzheimer's Association has now released the first clinical practice guidelines for how specialists should use these tests. This is a crucial step toward making accurate, accessible Alzheimer's diagnosis a reality for millions of families.
The guidelines, released at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference, provide evidence-based recommendations to help clinicians use blood biomarker tests confidently and consistently. They represent years of research synthesis and expert consensus—a foundation for transforming how Alzheimer's is diagnosed and managed.
What the Guidelines Mean for Patients
For families seeking answers, standardized guidelines mean more confidence in test results and more consistent care across different medical systems. A blood test interpreted the same way in rural Minnesota as in urban Los Angeles removes one of the barriers that has long made dementia diagnosis a geographic lottery.
The guidelines also address an important human element: how to communicate results. A positive Alzheimer's biomarker test is life-changing news. The guidelines emphasize sensitive disclosure, appropriate counseling, and connection to support resources—recognizing that diagnosis is just the beginning of a family's journey.
Planning for the Future
For caregivers and those newly diagnosed, early detection opens doors. There's time to participate in clinical trials of promising new treatments. There's time for legal and financial planning while the person with Alzheimer's can still participate in decisions. And there's time to build the support systems—including music-based interventions—that will matter most as the disease progresses.
I think often about how different my grandmother's journey might have been with earlier diagnosis. The frustrating years of uncertainty, the missed opportunities for early intervention—these may become relics of the past. For future families facing Alzheimer's, these guidelines represent a path toward clearer answers and better preparation.
References:
1) https://aaic.alz.org/releases-2025/highlights-aaic-2025.asp
