Actor portrayal
Evaluation and Testing
Evaluation and Testing
Actor portrayal
What to Expect in a Memory and Thinking Evaluation and Testing
To evaluate what might be the problem, your doctor may run a full assessment of your thinking, memory, and decision-making abilities and determine the presence of amyloid plaque in the brain.
This is an example of the steps someone may experience to evaluate and test memory and thinking issues. Individual experiences may vary.
Must meet testing criteria. These tests are not intended to be used as a standalone diagnostic.
Step 1:
Talk with your doctor about an evaluation
Make an appointment to talk about your memory and thinking issues. It may be helpful to explain specific situations when you have experienced memory and thinking issues, whether they are becoming more frequent, and what your loved ones are noticing about your symptoms. Discuss your medical and family history with your doctor as well.
Step 2:
Get a cognitive assessment
Your doctor may then perform a cognitive, functional, and/or behavioral assessment to evaluate your cognitive health.
Step 3:
Routine labs
Then, you may have routine labs done that can help identify what may be contributing to your memory and thinking issues.
Step 4:
Amyloid testing options
Depending on the results of your cognitive assessment and initial labs, your healthcare provider may order further testing to determine if your memory and thinking issues could be associated with an abnormal buildup of amyloid plaque in the brain. Testing options could include a P-tau217 blood test—which detects biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s disease—brain imaging tests (PET scan), or a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) test.
Step 5:
Diagnosis
Your healthcare provider will make a diagnosis based on the results of your cognitive assessment and tests that detect the presence of amyloid plaque buildup in your brain.
Step 6:
Discuss next steps and treatment options
Depending on your results and diagnosis, your doctor will discuss what next step is right for you, including possible treatment options
P-tau=phosphorylated tau.
There are 3 different types of tests that are often used to evaluate memory and thinking issues and determine the presence of amyloid plaque in the brain
P-tau217 blood tests
Biomarkers, or biological markers, are signs about your health that your doctor evaluates in testing. P-tau217 blood tests can detect biomarkers associated with the presence of abnormal amyloid plaque buildup in your brain which is linked to Alzheimer’s disease. The results inform your doctor’s diagnosis.
Amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) scan
A PET scan produces an image of the brain and can show if amyloid plaque buildup is present. This can help your doctor determine a diagnosis.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) test
A CSF test is an assessment that requires a lumbar puncture to help your doctor identify biomarkers that indicate amyloid plaque buildup. The results inform your doctor’s diagnosis.
Must meet testing criteria. These tests are not intended to be used as a standalone diagnostic.
What about coverage?
Medicare provides coverage for an annual wellness visit that includes a memory and thinking assessment.* This assessment can give you and your doctor a baseline to help track your brain health.
Private coverage varies by test and insurance plan. When you and your doctor discuss different types of tests, ask about your coverage options.
*You must be enrolled for at least 1 year before Medicare provides coverage for an annual wellness visit.
Take action now to evaluate your memory and thinking issues
Lilly has partnered with MoCA Cognition to provide resources to evaluate your memory and thinking. Use your personalized results to start a discussion with your doctor.