An assay for Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology in a living patient is disclosed wherein an amount of α7nAChR or TLR4 in a FLNA-captured protein complex or α7nAChR in an Aβ-captured protein complex or α7nAChR-FLNA, TLR4-FLNA and/or α7nAChR-Aβ42 complex present as a protein-protein complex in a sample is compared to the amount in a standard sample from a person free of AD pathology. An amount greater than in the standard sample indicates AD pathology. Also disclosed is an assay predictive of prognosis for treatment with a medicament in which the amount of an above protein or protein complex is compared to an amount in the presence of a medicament that binds to a FLNA pentapeptide and contains at least four pharmacophores of FIGS. 7-12. An amount of protein or protein complex determined in the presence of the medicament that is less than the first amount indicates a favorable treatment prognosis.