Screening for Alzheimer’s Disease

The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually done for people without any current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.

Screening Tests or Guidelines

There are several tests that doctors may use to screen for Alzheimer's disease . Examples include:

Neurological exam—to test the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles) for evidence of other neurological disorders.
Wechsler's Logical Memory and Visual Reproduction and Kendrick Object Learning Test—may be used if you have depressive symptoms.
Seven-Minute Screen
Mini-Mental State Exam
Memory Impairment Screening
Self-assessment cognitive test—This is a test that you take on your own to assess your memory.

Genetic testing is available, but it is not routinely used in most patients. It may be done in patients with a family history of early-onset Alzheimer's. Researchers are also studying whether specialized imaging tests would be helpful in screening for Alzheimer's disease. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) evaluation via a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) may play a role in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

References

Alzheimer's disease. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated July 11, 2012. Accessed August 22, 2012.

Alzheimer's disease medications fact sheet. National Institute on Aging website. Available at: http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/medicationsfs.htm . Updated July 2010. Accessed August 22, 2012.

Know the 10 signs. Alzheimer’s Association website. Available at: http://www.alz.org/alzheimers%5Fdisease%5Fknow%5Fthe%5F10%5Fsigns.asp . Accessed August 22, 2012.

Drago V, et al. Disease tracking markers for Alzheimer’s disease at the prodromal (MCI) stage. J Alzhemier’s Dis. 2011;26 Suppl 3:159-199.

Hampel H, et al. Biomarker’s for Alzheimer’s disease: academic, industry and regulatory perspectives. Nat Rev Drug Discov . 2010;9(7):560-74.

Wolk DA, Klunk W. Update on amyloid imaging: from healthy aging to Alzheimer's disease. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep . 2009;9(5):345-352.

7/6/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Brown J, Pengas G, Dawson K, Brown LA, Clatworthy P. Self administered cognitive screening test (TYM) for detection of Alzheimer's disease: cross sectional study. BMJ . 2009;338:b2030.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Rimas Lukas, MD
Review Date: 09/2012
Update Date: 00/91/2012

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.