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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A simpler way to screen for Alzheimer's just got the green light. The FDA has cleared Elecsys pTau217, a blood test developed by Roche and Eli Lilly, to help identify Alzheimer's-related brain changes in adults 55 and older with cognitive decline. The test can run on thousands of already-installed lab analyzers nationwide, with Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics also planning to offer it through their networks.
The FDA has cleared Elecsys pTau217, a blood-based biomarker test developed by Roche and Eli Lilly, to help doctors identify whether patients aged 55 and older with cognitive decline are likely — or unlikely — to have Alzheimer's-related brain changes. The clearance follows European approval of the test back in May, signaling growing global momentum for blood-based Alzheimer's diagnostics.
What makes this particularly significant is the scale of potential access. The test can be run on more than 4,500 Roche lab analyzers already installed across the U.S., and both Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics have announced plans to offer it through their networks — meaning millions of patients could benefit without needing new infrastructure. Notably, the test is not intended as a standalone diagnostic and should be interpreted alongside other clinical information.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Traditional Alzheimer's detection methods — PET scans and cerebrospinal fluid testing — are expensive, invasive, and hard to access. A widely available blood test could dramatically accelerate earlier diagnosis and open the door to timely treatment, especially as new Alzheimer's therapies continue to emerge.
