Summary

• Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia that affects your thinking, behaviour and ability to do everyday tasks.
• Alzheimer's disease is associated with a build-up of certain proteins in your brain and gets worse over time.
• While Alzheimer's disease is more common in older people, it is not a normal part of ageing.
• See your doctor if you have memory loss, difficulty with familiar tasks or language, or changes in your mood or personality.
• There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, but some medicines can help improve your quality of life.

These key facts are from healthdirect.gov.au (accessed 26 November 2025). Visit the healthdirect website for more information about Alzheimer's disease.

Relevant tests

There is no single blood test that can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease relies on clinical assessment, cognitive testing, brain imaging and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF - the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord).
In the clinical assessment doctors look at memory changes and daily functioning. They use tools like the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) or Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) along with neurological and psychiatric evaluations.

Blood tests are used to rule out reversible causes such as thyroid disease, vitamin B12 deficiency and infections.

CSF analysis is used to measure amyloid beta and tau protein levels. This test helps distinguish Alzheimer’s from other forms of dementias.

Currently, blood biomarkers such as p tau217 or amyloid beta ratios are not yet routine in Australia, but are being trialled in a few laboratories. These markers have high accuracy in detecting Alzheimer’s Disease and are expected to become routine screening tests in Australia within the next decade.

Brain imaging using MRI or CT scans are used to rule out strokes, tumours, or other brain changes.