Blood Test for Alzheimer’s Disease

Posted on January 22, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease and the most common type of dementia. It causes a slow decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning skills.

In May of 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Lumipulse test, the first blood test to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease.

The Lumipulse test utilizes a blood sample to measure specific proteins, including a particular form of the tau protein. The tau protein is a protein found in neurons that stabilizes hollow rods called microtubules, which guide the transport of nutrients, signals, and other essential molecules throughout the cell. The tau protein can indicate the presence of amyloid plaques in the brain. An amyloid plaque is a buildup of protein that is considered a hallmark sign of Alzheimer’s disease.

The Lumipulse test, along with other diagnostic tools such as a PET scan, can aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

Although this blood test can detect changes before any memory issues occur, it is recommended that it be used clinically in those who are showing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

The test is approved for adults 50 years of age and older who are having early memory or thinking problems, such as repeating questions, forgetting names, or misplacing things.

The test is not recommended for those with no symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

It is important to note that if you can take the Lumipulse test and receive a positive result, it means that there are changes in your brain that may suggest you have Alzheimer’s. However, these results by themselves do not mean that you have Alzheimer’s disease.

You should consult with your healthcare provider to help further determine if you have Alzheimer’s disease. They may:

Recommend more tests, such as imaging tests or cognitive tests

Suggest lifestyle changes that help support your brain health

Help you plan next steps, such as treatment options or clinical trials

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s, you can receive treatment from a neurologist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

Posted on November 18, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

November is observed as National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. This month recognizes the importance of understanding what Alzheimer’s is and what steps you can take to care for your brain.

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease and the most common type of dementia. It causes a slow decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning skills. Age is the biggest risk factor for the disease, followed by sex and family history.

Dementia is not a specific disease, but an overall term that describes a group of symptoms like memory loss and the loss of other mental abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life, caused by physical changes in the brain.

Different types of dementia include:

Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease

Frontotemporal Dementia

Huntington’s Disease

Korsakoff Syndrome

There are many signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia. They include:

Memory loss that disrupts daily life

Challenges in planning or solving problems

Difficulty completing familiar tasks

Confusion with time and place

Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships

New problems with words in speaking or writing

Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

Decreased or poor judgment

Withdrawal from work or social activities

Changes in mood and personality

Even though there isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s and many other types of dementia, there are many preventative measures you can follow to care for your brain, including:

Breaking a sweat: regular cardiovascular exercise elevates your heart rate and increases blood flow to the brain and body. Several studies have found an association between physical activity and reduced risk of cognitive decline.

Eating healthy: eating a healthy and balanced diet that is lower in fat and higher in vegetables and fruit to help reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Although research on diet and cognitive function is limited, certain diets, such as the Mediterranean and Mediterranean-DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets, may help reduce the risk.

Catching some ZZZs: Not getting enough sleep due to conditions like insomnia or sleep apnea may result in problems with memory and thinking.

Taking care of your mental health: Some studies have linked a history of depression with an increased risk of cognitive decline. Seek medical treatment if you have experienced symptoms of depression, anxiety, or any other mental health concerns. Also, try to manage stress.

Stumping yourself: Challenge and activate your mind. Try building a piece of furniture, completing a jigsaw puzzle, doing something artistic, or playing a strategy game. Challenging your mind may have short- and long-term benefits for your brain.

Type 3 Diabetes

Posted on November 14, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it produces effectively. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Another type of diabetes is gestational diabetes, which develops exclusively in pregnancy when blood sugar levels are too high.

However, another type of diabetes, type 3 diabetes, has been linked to Alzheimer’s.

Insulin helps control blood sugar levels by enabling glucose to enter cells. Insulin also affects metabolism, nerve cells, how neurons communicate, and the brain’s cognitive functions.

When a person develops insulin resistance, it can reduce the supply of glucose to the brain and cause changes to the protein involved in the development of dementia called tau. Additionally, the brain can become damaged, and the connection between the regions of the brain can be weakened when it doesn’t receive a sufficient amount of glucose.

Type 3 diabetes occurs when the brain becomes resistant to the effects of insulin. This insulin resistance is believed to lead to symptoms that are commonly associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

It is important to note that type 3 diabetes isn’t officially recognized by the American Diabetes Association and other major health organizations. However, some experts have called Alzheimer’s disease type 3 diabetes because of the pathological implications that address a major decrease in glucose levels and how that affects brain cognition and memory.

Researchers call Alzheimer’s type 3 diabetes due to the similar features that are present in diabetes, memory deficits, and a decline in thinking abilities in older adults. A study in 2020 listed the potential risk factors for developing type 3 diabetes, such as:

A diet that is high in calories, sugar, and fat, but low in fiber

A low socioeconomic status

Exposure to stress

Race and ethnicity

A lack of physical activity

Genetics

Family history

Birth weight

The study also indicated that high blood pressure and impaired lipid, or fat, transportation play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Society notes that diabetes is a risk factor for developing dementia.

Although there isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s and many other types of dementia, treatment for the disease includes medications that slow the progression of the condition or treat its symptoms.

It is important to note that there is another type of diabetes known as type 3c diabetes mellitus that occurs when endocrine dysfunction affects the pancreas, such as damage to the exocrine glands, which harms the endocrine glands. This condition is distinctive and shouldn’t be confused with type 3 diabetes.