Lumipulse pTau-217/Beta Amyloid 42 Ratio




Has anyone here read anything about this dementia test? If I ever show cognitive decline, I think I would like to get this test. Then maybe have an exit plan.
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My husband had this blood test to diagnose Alzheimer’s. It is extremely accurate and not only tells you what is present in his brain that is present with Alzheimer’s but gives you an idea of the rate of progression to determine the stage of the disease. Results took several weeks and could only be done through Labcorp.
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Here is a link that explains the blood test for Alzheimer’s.
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Thank you Michele.
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I hope the information helps. Take care.
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Yes it has. Thanks so much. You take care too.
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I read that it got FDA approval in May. I plan to request it when next I see my mom's PCP. Mom's MRI shows Vascular Dementia but I think she has a mix as her Kappa/Llamba showed amyloid plaques, and I want to know..
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This blood test was recently approved for Alzheimer’s diagnosis for ages 50 and over.
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Did insurance pay for it?
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My husband is a veteran and rated 100 percent disabled. It was covered by the VA. I would call Labcorp and ask that question. My private health insurance would not cover any test through Labcorp.
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I don't claim to be an expert, but I'd suggest folks who are interested in the blood tests for AD read the Alzheimer's Association guidelines on this topic, published July 29, 2025 (link below).
The guidelines indicate you need to be aware of two parameters: the sensitivity of the blood test and the specificity. These two words have specific definitions for blood tests: sensitivity refers to how well the test identifies people who really have AD. A highly sensitive test rarely misses people who really have AD. Specificity refers to how well a test correctly identifies people who do not have AD.
The guidelines recommend that a blood test can be used as a triage test to determine the presence or absence of AD pathology (i.e. is there amyloid plaque in the brain or not), then the test should have at least 90% sensitivity and at least 75% specificity. To confirm the diagnosis, either a spinal tap or an amyloid PET scan would be required.
If the blood test is to be used for confirmation of AD as a substitute for the normal spinal tap or amyloid PET scan, then they Alzheimer's Associations recommends the test have 90% sensitivity and 90% specificity.
So to understand the usefulness of any AD blood test, you need to understand the sensitivity and specificity values.
I also suggest being wary of claims that any blood test can provide an estimate of the rate of progression of AD. I recently attended the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Toronto. There was a lot of discussion about the various blood tests, the Association's new guidelines, and the sensitivity / specificity of the various tests. I didn't hear anybody make claims about estimating the rate of progression of AD.
The focus of the current blood tests seem to be serving as predictions of amyloid plaque in the brain, one of the hallmarks of AD. But the amyloid plaque is not the key driver in the cognitive decline. Rather, according to amyloid cascade theory, it is high levels of amyloid plaque which trigger the formulation of tau. Once the tau begins to collect inside neurons, the neurons become damaged and eventually die. This seems to be the driver in cognitive decline. Today, people can get tau PET scans which detect the amount and location of tau tangles inside neurons. I am not aware of any blood tests that can reliably determine tau levels inside neurons, despite what some companies selling their blood tests might claim.https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.70535
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Also, I'd challenge the comment about "having an exit plan." I was diagnosed with MCI last year, I'm on Leqembi. I hope to be one of the first survivors of AD. This is not some bizzare fantasy, my hope is based on facts. At the AAIC2025 conference in Toronto, speakers from Eisai (drug company responsible for Leqembi) and Eli Lilly (drug company responsible for Kisunla, the other anti-amyloid medication), noted that both drugs were very successful at maintaining people at their current stage if they start on the drugs when they have low levels ot tau tangles.
So I have hope for my future, and at the present time, see no need to be considering "exit plans."2 -
I sincerely apologize if I have offended anyone with my "exit plan" comment. I certainly didn't mean others should give up hope. Right now, at this point in time watching DH deteriorate, I'm feeling very hopeless.
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Cat K, you have every right to feel that way. I agree with you. If I was diagnosed with dementia I would start considering my own exit plan so my family wouldn’t have to. That doesn’t mean that I am for assisted suicide. It just means a plan for my care and end of life decisions. I prayed my DH’s suffering would end while I also prayed for a cure. Hugs. 💜🙏
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Thank you so much for your comments! I have tears in my eyes reading your post. 💓
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Commonly Used Abbreviations
DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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