A simple blood test that could detect dementia at an early stage is now being trialed in NHS clinics across the UK. The study, involving over 3,000 patients, seeks to validate a diagnostic test suitable for routine use, capable of detecting problems with memory and mental processing in their early stages. This initiative addresses the current diagnostic gap, where only 2% of Alzheimer’s Disease patients receive a proper diagnosis due to limited access to specialized PET brain scanners and trained staff for spinal fluid sampling.
Stephanie Everill, 67, is among the first participants in the Blood Biomarker Challenge. Diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment a year ago, she hopes the study will lead to faster diagnoses and access to treatments. Scientists will analyze her blood sample, along with others collected from 28 clinics and mobile units, for protein biomarkers linked to various forms of dementia.
The Need for Early Detection
Professor Vanessa Raymont from the University of Oxford, who leads the study, aims to have a cost-effective and accurate test ready for widespread clinical use within five years. She emphasized the importance of early diagnosis in light of emerging dementia drugs, stating, "It will be nothing short of disastrous if people are unable to get a diagnosis early enough to benefit from the new drugs once they do become available. Blood biomarker tests could be the answer."
The trial is funded by organizations including the Alzheimer’s Society, Alzheimer’s Research UK, and the People's Postcode Lottery. Professor Fiona Carragher from the Alzheimer's Society highlighted that a third of people in the UK do not receive a dementia diagnosis, emphasizing the blood biomarker challenge's role in revolutionizing the diagnostic pathway.
Cambridge University's Approach
Meanwhile, scientists at the University of Cambridge are employing a similar blood test approach to measure brain changes in dementia patients, offering an alternative to costly brain scans. Dr. Maura Malpetti's research, supported by the Race Against Dementia Fellowship, focuses on detecting molecular changes associated with brain inflammation and dementia in blood samples, potentially decades before physical symptoms manifest.
Dr. Malpetti notes that frontotemporal dementia, while less common, is often misdiagnosed, affecting approximately 20,000 people in the UK. Her research indicates that higher brain inflammation correlates with faster clinical decline in frontotemporal dementia, similar to Alzheimer's disease, suggesting the potential of immunotherapy as a treatment.
Potential Impact
Dr Richard Oakley from the Alzheimer's Society sees this research as an exciting step toward early and accurate dementia diagnosis, offering individuals more time to plan and prepare for the future. The study aims to recruit participants from diverse UK communities, identifying those who could benefit most from disease-modifying treatments. Other dementia blood test trials are also underway in the UK as part of the Blood Biomarker Challenge.
In Australia, where nearly half a million people are affected by dementia, concerns have been raised about access to new treatments like Leqembi. While Leqembi has not been approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) due to concerns about side effects outweighing benefits, its sponsor is seeking a reconsideration. These medications are more effective in the earlier stages of dementia to treat symptoms, but they don't prevent or stop the disease progression.
