Alzheimer's Disease: Diagnosis

(asked on 3rd March 2023) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines entitled Dementia: assessment, management and support for people living with dementia and their carers, published on 20 June 2018, whether his Department is taking steps to increase patient access to (a) fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography and (b) cerebrospinal fluid tests for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.


Answered by
Helen Whately Portrait
Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
This question was answered on 9th March 2023

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines provide evidence based recommendations for health and care, including on assessment, management and support for people living with dementia and their carers. NICE guideline NG97 states that clinicians should consider a fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scan and cerebrospinal fluid tests when the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is uncertain.

Integrated commissioning boards are expected to commission appropriate resources, including such testing, in line with the local population health needs.

Reticulating Splines