Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease can now be treated, not just managed. But only if you act early.

FDA approved anti-amyloid therapy can slow the progression of early Alzheimer’s disease for the first time in history. ANSA Neurology offers this therapy in Glendale, CA alongside pTau blood biomarker testing, confirming diagnosis and eligibility without a lumbar puncture or PET scan.

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Board certified neurologist · In-house pTau testing · GUIDE program participant

FDA approved anti-amyloid therapies now available

Lecanemab (approved 2023) and donanemab (approved 2024) are the first treatments in history to target the underlying cause of Alzheimer’s disease, not just the symptoms.

35%

Slowing of clinical decline in clinical trials

Patients treated in the early stages showed statistically significant slowing of cognitive and functional decline compared to placebo over 18 months.

Only private GUIDE practice in Los Angeles

Why timing is everything

The window for the most effective treatment is earlier than most people think.

Anti-amyloid therapy works by clearing amyloid plaques from the brain, the accumulation of protein deposits now understood to be the earliest biological sign of Alzheimer’s disease. But like most disease-modifying treatments, it works best when it is started before significant damage has occurred.

The FDA approved both available therapies specifically for patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, specifically those experiencing mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia. Once a patient has progressed to moderate or severe stages, the window for this therapy closes.

This is why memory changes that could be dismissed as normal aging deserve a formal neurological evaluation. A thorough assessment, including pTau blood biomarker testing, can tell you definitively whether Alzheimer’s pathology is present, and whether treatment is an option.

Subtle memory changes

Forgetting names, misplacing items, losing track of conversations. Often dismissed but can be early signs worth evaluating.

Early stage: treatment window open

Mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia, with confirmed amyloid pathology. Both FDA approved therapies are indicated at this stage.

Moderate to late stage: window closes

Once significant cognitive decline has occurred, anti-amyloid therapy is no longer appropriate. This is the clearest argument for early evaluation.

FDA Approved Treatment

Anti-amyloid infusion therapy: the first treatment to target the disease itself.

For decades, Alzheimer’s medications could only manage symptoms. Anti-amyloid therapies change that. They are monoclonal antibodies that cross the blood-brain barrier, bind to amyloid plaques, and mark them for removal by the brain’s immune system. The result, in clinical trials, was a meaningful slowing of cognitive and functional decline in patients who were treated early.

How it works: Amyloid plaques, abnormal protein deposits that accumulate between neurons, are now understood to be a defining biological marker of Alzheimer’s disease and a driver of its progression. Anti-amyloid therapies are engineered to identify and bind to these plaques, triggering their clearance through the immune system. This is the first class of Alzheimer’s treatment to directly address the underlying disease biology rather than compensating for lost function.

How it is administered: Treatment is delivered through intravenous infusion at regular intervals. The specific schedule depends on which therapy is used and how your body responds. ANSA manages the full infusion process, including monitoring for the primary known side effect: amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), which are typically mild and monitored through periodic MRI scans.

Who qualifies: Not everyone with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is eligible. Therapy is approved for patients in the early stages (mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia), with confirmed amyloid pathology. Confirmation is done through pTau blood biomarker testing or amyloid PET imaging. Genetic factors, including APOE genotype, also play a role in eligibility assessment and risk counseling.

2023

Lecanemab received full FDA approval

2024

Donanemab received full FDA approval

35%

Slowing of decline vs placebo in phase 3 trials

18mo

Primary trial duration showing clinical benefit

ANSA Neurology will assess your eligibility, confirm amyloid pathology through in-house pTau testing, counsel you on benefits and risks, and manage the treatment process from start to monitoring. Most major insurance plans, including Medicare, cover anti-amyloid therapy for eligible patients.

pTau Blood Biomarker Testing

A diagnosis that used to require a spinal tap. Now available from a blood draw.

Confirming Alzheimer’s disease pathology previously required either a lumbar puncture to collect cerebrospinal fluid, or an expensive amyloid PET scan, barriers that prevented many patients from many patients from getting an accurate diagnosis and accessing treatment. A new generation of blood-based biomarker tests has changed this.

What pTau measures: Phosphorylated tau (pTau) is a protein that becomes abnormally modified in the presence of Alzheimer’s disease. Blood levels of pTau, specifically pTau 217 and pTau 181 variants, are strongly elevated in individuals with amyloid pathology in the brain. When combined with measurements of beta-amyloid 1-42, these tests can identify Alzheimer’s disease with high accuracy.

FDA clearance in 2025: The Lumipulse G pTau217/β-Amyloid 1-42 plasma ratio test received FDA clearance in May 2025 and is the first blood-based test cleared by the FDA to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. A second test, the Elecsys pTau181, received FDA clearance in October 2025. These tests are indicated for patients aged 50 and older presenting with signs of cognitive decline.

What the results mean: A positive result consistent with amyloid pathology, combined with clinical evaluation and cognitive testing, can confirm an Alzheimer’s diagnosis and establish eligibility for anti-amyloid therapy. A negative result helps rule out Alzheimer’s and guide the search for other causes of cognitive symptoms.

Available at ANSA: pTau biomarker testing is available in-office at ANSA Neurology. You do not need to be referred to a separate facility or wait for a specialist appointment elsewhere. Results are interpreted by Dr. Akopian in the context of your full neurological evaluation.

Neurological evaluation

Dr. Akopian conducts a complete evaluation of your cognitive symptoms, medical history, and any changes in memory, language, or daily function.

Neurocognitive testing

Structured, in-office cognitive assessment measuring memory, attention, executive function, and language, establishing a baseline and tracking change over time.

pTau blood draw

A simple blood sample is collected in office and analyzed for pTau and beta-amyloid levels. No lumbar puncture. No PET scan required for initial assessment.

Results & care planning

Dr. Akopian reviews your results with you in full, covering what they mean, whether anti-amyloid therapy is appropriate, and what the next steps look like for you and your family.

When to Seek Evaluation

Signs that warrant a formal neurological evaluation, not a wait-and-see approach.

Many of the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease are subtle and easy to attribute to normal aging or stress. The distinction matters, because the opportunity for the most effective intervention is time-limited. If you or a family member are experiencing any of the following, a formal evaluation is appropriate.

Forgetting recently learned information

Especially asking the same questions repeatedly or relying heavily on notes and reminders for things that were previously routine.

Difficulty following conversations or stories

Losing track of what was just said, trouble finding the right word, or stopping mid-sentence without being able to continue.

Getting lost in familiar places

Confusion about dates, seasons, or the passage of time, or difficulty navigating routes that were once automatic.

Changes in judgment or decision-making

Unusual financial decisions, difficulty managing bills or medication schedules, or changes in hygiene and self-care that are new.

Withdrawal from work or social activities

Pulling back from hobbies, projects, or social engagements that were previously enjoyed, especially when it coincides with other cognitive changes.

Personality or mood changes

Increased anxiety, suspicion, depression, or irritability in someone who did not previously exhibit these traits, particularly if accompanied by memory concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Alzheimer’s evaluation and treatment.

Who qualifies for anti-amyloid therapy?

Eligibility requires two things: early-stage disease (mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia, not moderate or severe) and confirmed amyloid pathology in the brain. Confirmation is done through pTau blood biomarker testing or amyloid PET imaging. Additional factors, including overall health, kidney and liver function, and genetic markers such as APOE genotype, are also reviewed. Dr. Akopian will conduct a complete evaluation and advise you on whether you or a family member meets the criteria.

Does Medicare cover anti-amyloid therapy?

Medicare covers FDA approved anti-amyloid therapies for eligible patients through Medicare Part B. Coverage typically requires that the patient meet the eligibility criteria (confirmed early-stage disease with amyloid pathology) and that the treating provider maintains enrollment in a qualified data collection program. ANSA will work with you and Medicare on coverage for all components of care, including the pTau biomarker testing and infusion sessions.

What is the difference between anti-amyloid therapy and older Alzheimer’s medications?

Older Alzheimer's medications such as cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine work by adjusting neurotransmitter levels to temporarily improve or stabilize symptoms. They do not affect the underlying disease. Anti-amyloid therapies work differently: they target and remove the amyloid plaques that are believed to drive the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. This makes them the first truly disease-modifying treatments. They do not reverse damage that has already occurred, but they slow the rate at which the disease progresses.

What does pTau testing involve?

pTau testing is a blood draw. A sample is collected at our Glendale office and analyzed for levels of phosphorylated tau and beta-amyloid proteins. Results are typically available within a few days and are reviewed with you by Dr. Akopian in the context of your full evaluation. A positive result indicating the presence of amyloid pathology, combined with clinical findings, can confirm an Alzheimer’s diagnosis and establish eligibility for anti-amyloid therapy.

What if I’m diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s but don’t qualify for anti-amyloid therapy?

Not every patient with early Alzheimer’s will be a candidate for anti-amyloid therapy, and there are several reasons this might be the case, including genetic factors, coexisting health conditions, or the specific stage of the disease. In those cases, ANSA provides comprehensive ongoing care: medication management to support cognitive function, cognitive care visits to track changes over time, enrollment in the GUIDE dementia program for coordinated support, and referral coordination as the disease evolves. An Alzheimer’s diagnosis without anti-amyloid therapy is not a dead end. It is the beginning of a managed, supported care plan.

How is ANSA different from a memory care center or hospital program?

Hospital memory programs and academic medical centers are often the only places offering anti-amyloid therapy in Los Angeles, and they come with the volume, wait times, and impersonal dynamics of large institutions. ANSA brings the same clinical capabilities to a private practice setting. You see the same doctor at every visit, calls are returned by the team, and the experience of care reflects what a private practice is supposed to feel like. ANSA is also the only private physician’s office in Los Angeles selected for Medicare’s GUIDE dementia program, alongside major academic institutions like UCLA, USC, and Cedars Sinai.