Researchers have warned that social media might be tricking asymptomatic individuals into undergoing Alzheimer’s blood tests, triggering intense distress over biological indicators that may not actually result in dementia. Biomarker tests based on blood, including p-tau181 and p-tau217, identify biological evidence of brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease, which is the primary cause of dementia and a progressive brain disorder. While these assays offer a quicker and more accessible alternative to brain imaging or lumbar punctures, peak neurological bodies emphasize they should never be used as standalone screens for asymptomatic individuals.
Social Media Promotion and Financial Incentives
According to research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, laboratories, influencers, and doctors around the world are actively promoting Alzheimer’s blood tests on digital platforms. Dr Jenna Smith from the University of Sydney’s school of public health and her colleagues analyzed 188 posts mentioning Alzheimer’s or dementia and blood tests across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, reaching a combined global audience of more than 114 million followers. Smith stated that about 10% of the posts came from doctors claiming the tests were useful for asymptomatic screening, with most originating from the United States. Furthermore, Smith noted that some of these physicians had clear financial interests, finding that accounts with explicit financial incentives were more than three times as likely to promote the tests for people without symptoms.
Clinical Harms and Diagnostic Uncertainty
Global neurological bodies, including the Alzheimer’s Association, maintain a consensus that blood biomarker assays should never be used on healthy people who have no symptoms. According to clinicians and peak bodies, the tests must be combined with other medical assessments rather than used on their own to diagnose Alzheimer’s. Dr Smith outlined the primary potential harms of improper screening, noting that healthy individuals could be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease yet never go on to develop clinical symptoms of dementia. Moreover, patients face uncertainty regarding clinical pathways after testing positive. Because treatment research has focused on people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia, experts do not know if therapeutics work for healthy individuals who test positive, raising concerns over potential side effects, treatment costs, psychological burdens, and insurance implications.
Expert Warnings Against Asymptomatic Screening
The president of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine, Prof Susan Kurrle, stated that the tests should only ever be ordered by doctors in specific circumstances where there is a high pre-test probability of early disease. Kurrle emphasized that the assays are most definitely not screening tests and that any unnecessary, expensive testing is harmful. In Australia, tests ordered through a doctor cost up to $AU400 and are not covered by Medicare. Meanwhile, online providers charge up to $600 before an eligibility assessment, or $365 with no mention of pre-test screening. Kurrle warned that false positives could lead individuals to believe they will inevitably develop dementia, while false negatives might falsely reassure people and cause them to ignore modifiable risk factors like exercise, vascular issues, or hearing and vision loss.
Did you know?
Two Alzheimer’s blood tests have been cleared by the FDA—the Fujirebio Lumipulse G pTau217/β-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio for symptomatic adults 55 and older, and the Roche Elecsys pTau181 Plasma for initial assessment in primary care for adults 55 and over with symptoms of cognitive decline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should healthy people take Alzheimer’s blood tests?
No. According to global neurological bodies like the Alzheimer’s Association and the Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine, blood biomarker tests should never be used on healthy people with no symptoms and are not intended as screening tools.
Why are blood biomarker tests marketed on social media?
University of Sydney researchers found that over one-third of analyzed social media posts promoted the tests for asymptomatic individuals, with accounts holding explicit financial interests being more than three times as likely to push the tests.
What are the risks of a false positive Alzheimer’s test?
Prof Susan Kurrle warns that a false positive can lead individuals to believe they will inevitably develop dementia, despite biological markers sometimes never progressing to clinical symptoms.
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