A new trial in the UK is set to evaluate a blood test for Alzheimer's disease, aiming to improve the accuracy of diagnosis for over 1,000 participants with suspected dementia. The study, led by scientists from University College London (UCL), seeks to raise diagnostic accuracy from 70% to over 90% by detecting specific biomarkers associated with the disease. This blood test, which costs approximately £100, identifies the presence of p-tau217, a biomarker linked to two rogue proteins—amyloid and tau—that accumulate in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.
Traditionally, Alzheimer's diagnosis has relied on cognitive assessments and invasive procedures such as PET scans and lumbar punctures, which are not routinely conducted. The trial, known as the Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis and Plasma p-tau217 (ADAPT) trial, will recruit patients from 20 memory clinics across the UK. Half of the participants will receive their blood test results within three months, while the other half will be informed after 12 months. This design aims to assess whether early results can expedite diagnosis and influence patient care.
The initiative is supported by Alzheimer's Research UK and the Alzheimer's Society, with funding from the People's Postcode Lottery. Professor Jonathan Schott, leading the trial, expressed optimism about the potential impact of the blood test on dementia diagnosis. Data collected from the trial will also evaluate how the results influence the quality of life for patients and their families.
If successful, this blood test could become a standard diagnostic tool, particularly as new treatments for early-stage Alzheimer's are nearing clinical trial completion. Results from the study are expected within three years.