How to diagnose suspected Alzheimers Disease
Which blood tests are typically ordered in a patient with suspected Alzheimers Disease to rule out other causes or contributing factors?
- Comprehensive metabolic panel (including sodium, blood sugar, calcium, liver enzymes, and renal function)
- Complete blood count with differential
- Thyroid function tests
- Rapid plasma reagin or equivalent test for syphilis
- Vitamin B12
- Antinuclear antibody (extractable nuclear antigen panel, if positive)
- Sedimentation rate
Additional tests:
- Folate
- Serum homocysteine
- Serum methylmalonic acid
- Serum arterial ammonia
- Parathyroid hormone
- Serum protein electrophoresis
- Cortisol levels
- Serum (and urine) drug screens
- Hexosaminidase levels
- HIV
