The journey to Alzheimer’s diagnosis matters, here’s why
:quality(90)/)
With over 55 million people worldwide living with dementia, and up to 70% of these with Alzheimer’s disease, ¹⁻² the sad reality is that many of us will have a loved one who has been impacted by this devastating disease. The symptoms of Alzheimer’s, which include memory loss, personality changes and difficulties with communication, are both distressing and have a significant impact on those affected, their families and society more broadly. Yet as many as 75% of people with dementia are not diagnosed worldwide.¹
The journey to Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be long and complicated, with people often facing up to a two-year wait.³ However, the importance of diagnosis is becoming increasingly clear. With new treatments on the horizon, which have the potential to slow this devastating disease, early diagnosis supports access to these medicines when they are at their most effective, early in the disease spectrum. Additionally, early diagnosis enables families to support implementing lifestyle changes, which growing evidence suggests can slow disease progression,⁴ as well as any life planning or changes that may help to improve their quality of life further down the road.
It's really about timing. Given the fact that I have a disease that progressively declines to a point where I'm no longer the person I that used to be.
It is also important to note that there are many reasons a person might experience memory-related symptoms. Diagnostic testing also has an important role to play in ruling out Alzheimer’s disease, enabling further investigations into other possible causes and opening up access to other potential support and treatment avenues.
Current diagnostic methods for Alzheimer’s disease used alongside clinical examination include cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing and/or PET scans of the brain. Despite the reliability of these tests in diagnosing Alzheimer’s, they have historically been difficult to access. It is also important to tackle the stigma associated with Alzheimer’s disease, which leads to reticence from some people, and even doctors, to seek a diagnosis.
We [people with Alzheimer’s disease] are quite misunderstood about what we can, or can't do, or who we are
One area of great opportunity is in the use of simple blood tests that can help to identify blood-based biomarkers, which, when used in conjunction with the other tests mentioned, can help to make the diagnostic process even more precise and streamlined. Biomarkers are molecular indicators found in the blood, tissue or body fluids. In Alzheimer’s, it is possible to detect the presence of two biomarkers – beta-amyloid and tau proteins – at very low concentrations in the blood, both of which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease pathology and are indicative of the disease. The hope is that these tests can help to improve the current Alzheimer’s diagnosis journey for patients, open up access to planning, prevention and future therapeutic options, and, ultimately, may help to preserve what makes people who they are for longer.
At Roche, we’re committed to helping change perceptions of brain health and drive clarity through diagnostic solutions that can improve patient outcomes as part of our end-to-end approach. We are focused on fostering collaboration to help solve the complexities of Alzheimer’s disease and helping to provide individuals and their loved ones with the opportunity to plan for their future.
References
Alzheimer’s Disease International. World Alzheimer Report 2022 [Internet; cited May 2025]. Available from
World Health Organization. Dementia. [Internet; cited May 2025] Available from:
Alzheimer’s Society. People with dementia face up to a two year wait for diagnosis. [Internet; cited June 2025] Available from:
Ornish, D., et al. Effects of intensive lifestyle changes on the progression of mild cognitive impairment or early dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease: a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Alz Res Therapy 16, 122 (2024).
:quality(90)/)
:quality(90)/)
:quality(90)/)