Alzheimer’s disease (AD): investigations

Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .

Alzheimer’s disease (AD): investigations. Vitamin B12, Folate, Glucose, Calcium, Full blood count. Fully referenced neurology checklist.

Blood tests

  • Vitamin B12
  • Folate
  • Glucose
  • Calcium
  • Full blood count
  • Liver function tests
  • Renal function tests
  • Thyroid function tests
  • Syphilis screening
  • Lyme serology
  • HIV screening
  • Consider genetics

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): features

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Amyloid positron emission tomography (amyloid PET)

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TAU positron emission tomography (Tau PET)

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Other imaging

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Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis

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Neurophysiology

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References

  1. Hort J, O’Brien JT, Gianotti G, et al. EFNS guidelines for the diagnosis and management of Alzheimer’s disease. Eur J Neurol 2010; 17:1236-1248.
  2. Inoue Y, Nakajima M, Uetani H, et al. Diagnostic significance of cortical superficial siderosis for Alzheimer disease in patients with cognitive impairment. Am J Neuroradiol 2016; 37:223-227. 
  3. Lorenzi RM, Palesi F, Castellazzi G, et al. Unsuspected involvement of spinal cord in alzheimer disease. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:6.
  4. Bakkour A, Morris JC, Dickerson BC. The cortical signature of prodromal AD: regional thinning predicts mild AD dementia. Neurology 2009; 72:1048–1055.
  5. Weston PS, Nicholas JM, Lehmann M, et al. Presymptomatic cortical thinning in familial Alzheimer disease: a longitudinal MRI study. Neurology 2016; 87:2050-2057.
  6. And 6 more. Subscribe to see the full list

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