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Any experience with the P Tau 217 plasma test for Alzheimer's?

Posted by mtdt757 @mtdt757, Mar 18 1:37pm

Has anyone had this bloodwork test for their partner/spouse with MCI done. I would love to hear comments of the results. My husband's results came back very high(.085). Normal should be .22. Waiting to have an appointment with his doctor to explain the results.
Thanks for any comments

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tak66 | @tak66 | May 4 9:26am
In reply to @upgirl2013 "@tak66 my husband’s TAU was 1.6 and the glucose PET scan results were consistent with Alzheimer’s...." + (show)
Profile picture for upgirl2013 @upgirl2013

@tak66 my husband’s TAU was 1.6 and the glucose PET scan results were consistent with Alzheimer’s. The neurologist at Mayo diagnosed him as in the moderate stage.
My heart is heavy for you as your husband is so young to be starting his mental decline. The working things is tough, his place of employment will start to notice his new “quirks” and will help with the decision to retire earlier than expected.
Aricept helped my husband keep his focus and last month the neurologist added Namenda to his treatment plan.
Take any caregiver class you can, start introducing helpers to your husband and take care of you. I am having a young woman come to “help me” with spring cleaning and other tasks just so my husband gets used to another person in the home.
Keep posting on these forums.
Hugs to you and all that need them.

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@upgirl2013 thank you for the post and kind words. He is planning his retirement at the end of August. This was great news for his employer as I know they are worried about him. There aren’t many in person support groups locally. I am on a lot of online groups which has been helpful. If someone had a crystal ball for the speed of decline that would be great 😀. It’s the unknown that kills me.

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upgirl2013 | @upgirl2013 | May 4 10:29am

The unknown and lack of what our futures like are the worse! I keep telling my self to put my helmet and seatbelts on. This is going to be a long and bumpy adventure.

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ednliz | @ednliz | May 5 4:20pm

My husband had the pTau-217 test last July and it came back 0.36 which his doctor said was indicative of Alzheimer's but not definitively so. The doctor ordered an Amyloid PET scan which showed no amyloid plaques, so the diagnosis is dementia, but we don't know what type. The neurologist told us it might be something called LATE - Limbic-predominant Age-related TDP-43 Encephalopathy. He said the symptoms mimic Alzheimer's and that they are finding that some percentage of patients who were diagnosed with Alzheimer's may actually have LATE. The problem is that, at least for now, there is no diagnostic test; it can only be diagnosed for certain at autopsy.

I would recommend that if you only have the pTau-217 test results, ask your doctor about an Amyloid PET Scan or an MRI to determine if there are Alzheimer's plaques.

Personally, I was almost hoping the Pet Scan had been positive for plaques because then we would know what he had and could start treatment.

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maryvc | @maryvc | May 6 11:32am

My husbands MRI and PET showed brain atrophy and white matter changes and the glucose did not uptake in areas of the brain where he is lacking but I asked about plaque and amyloid and the neurologist said it’s not always obvious. Could be microscopic. He also tested positive for Lewey Body and his Tau217 was .83

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