Older adults show high willingness for Alzheimer’s blood tests

Northwestern University psychologist Andrea Russell sees older adults with early cognitive impairment riddled with anxiety. Some worry a missed word or forgotten appointment could signal Alzheimer's disease. Others fear making a mistake in public. Some are too afraid to ask their doctor.

Witnessing that uncertainty, and the stigma surrounding dementia, inspired Russell to spearhead a new Northwestern Medicine survey that found a vast majority of older adults would be willing to take a biomarker blood test to assess their Alzheimer's risk.

The study will publish April 15 in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

The survey of nearly 600 primary care patients (average age 62) found 84% were unfamiliar with Alzheimer's blood tests and fewer than 2% had previously completed one. But after receiving a brief explanation of the tests, 85% of respondents said they would take one if their doctor recommended it.