The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new blood test for Alzheimer’s that can detect a presence in the brain of amyloid plaque, which has been considered a key indicator of the disease.
The test is not meant for routine screening but can be pivotal for a diagnosis when cognitive problems are causing doctors to suspect Alzheimer’s. Roche, the test’s manufacturer, announced the FDA’s decision Monday. The test was developed in collaboration with Eli Lilly.