Blood-Based Biomarkers Sharpen Dementia Diagnosis After Full Workup

At the 2026 Jersey City Psychiatry Conference, an expert highlighted that blood-based biomarkers are improving dementia diagnosis precision but should only follow a complete clinical workup for patients with objective cognitive impairment. George Grossberg, MD, from Saint Louis University, noted that imprecise labels like "senile dementia" are being replaced by specific diagnoses, enabling targeted therapies. He credited three FDA-cleared blood tests, the first approved in May 2025, for this progress. Grossberg advised against using the tests for worried adults without impairment, citing guidelines. A full workup—including thyroid blood tests, depression screening, and MRI—must precede biomarker testing to rule out reversible causes.