MIND’s Alzheimer’s & Memory Disorder Center Lead Physician Dr. Jonathan Fellows joined WWJ Newsradio 950’s Christina McDaniel to discuss the latest advancement in Alzheimer’s disease screening—a FDA-cleared blood test used in primary care settings for pTau181 protein by Roche’s Elecsys® that could dramatically improve early detection and patient care.
During the interview, Dr. Fellows highlighted that if the pTau181 blood test returns negative, patients have a 97-98% chance of not having Alzheimer’s disease. “If it’s negative, that’s a really good indicator that there’s no amyloid,” Dr. Fellows said, referring to the plaque buildup in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease. He also emphasized that a positive result triggers timely referral for advanced diagnostics and specialist evaluation.
He stressed that early diagnosis opens the door to treatments that may slow progression by 25-35% or more. Additionally, lifestyle interventions like exercise, Mediterranean-style diet, sleep optimization and hearing loss management still play a central role in risk reduction.
For more insights and actionable steps, listen to the full interview online: New FDA-approved test to rule out Alzheimer’s now available in doctor’s offices
For more information about our Alzheimer’s Disease & Memory Disorder Center or to request an appointment, visit mindonline.com/alzheimers or call (248) 553-0010.
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