Is it true that the most accurate way to confirm a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is by identifying neuropathological markers through an autopsy?

Identifying neuropathological markers through an autopsy is indeed considered the most accurate way to confirm a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. This is primarily because the definitive diagnosis relies on the presence of specific brain changes, such as the accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, which can only be observed post-mortem.

Although other diagnostic methods such as cognitive assessments, neuroimaging, and biomarker analysis through cerebrospinal fluid can provide strong evidence and support a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s while the individual is alive, these methods cannot confirm the diagnosis with the same level of certainty as an autopsy can. Consequently, the statement holds true that the ultimate confirmation of Alzheimer’s disease relies on identifying these characteristic neuropathological features through an autopsy, making it the most accurate diagnostic tool.