What Blood Tests Could Mean for Early Alzheimer’s Detection | Dr. Joshua Grill

Blood tests and other biomarkers are bringing researchers closer to detecting Alzheimer’s disease before memory loss begins — a shift that could reshape prevention, treatment, and the way families think about risk.Dr. Joshua Grill, director of the UC Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND) and UCI’s NIA-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, explains how advances in amyloid PET scans, spinal fluid testing, and blood-based biomarkers are changing Alzheimer’s research and care. Grill has published more than 150 articles and is nationally recognized for his work on clinical trials, recruitment and retention, and biomarker disclosure.In this conversation with Being Patient’s Mark Niu, Grill discussed why these tests are useful today for people already experiencing cognitive symptoms, why they are not yet recommended as a routine risk test for people without memory problems, and how biomarkers are helping researchers design prevention trials for people at higher biological risk. He also explained the emotional, ethical, and legal questions that come with assessing Alzheimer’s risk and what still needs to happen before early testing and treatment become part of routine care.---If you loved listening to this interview, visit our website to find more of our Alzheimer’s coverage and subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.beingpatient.com/Follow Being Patient: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Being_Patient_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingpatientvoices/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beingpatientalzheimersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/being-patientBeing Patient is an editorially independent journalism outlet for news and reporting about brain health, cognitive science, and neurodegenerative diseases. In our Live Talk series on Facebook, former Wall Street Journal Editor and founder of Being Patient, Deborah Kan, interviews brain health experts and people living with dementia. Check out our latest Live Talks: https://beingpatient.com/live-talks/