Alzheimer's blood test to speed up diagnosis

A BLOOD test to accelerate the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease will be trialled in a major study recruiting 1,100 patients from across the UK.

- By Hanna Geissler Health Editor

It measures levels of a protein called p-tau217, which has been linked to the presence of toxic proteins amyloid and tau in the brain.

Researchers will look at whether using the test when patients are near the start of being assessed for memory or thinking problems can improve diagnosis and guide decisions on further tests or treatment.

The landmark ADAPT study is part of the Blood Biomarker Challenge, a multi-million pound programme aimed at finding a reliable test.

Professor Jonathan Schott, trial leader and expert in neurology at University College London and chief medical officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said it was hoped it would “take us a step forward in revolutionising the way we diagnose dementia”.