British patients trial major new blood test for Alzheimer’s disease
New blood test could revolutionise Alzheimer’s diagnosis in UK
- British patients are trialling a major new blood test for Alzheimer’s disease, which could revolutionise the diagnosis of the condition.
- The trial, led by a University College London team, investigates whether measuring the p-tau217 protein can improve early and accurate diagnosis within the NHS.
- This blood test is considered as accurate as current, more invasive methods like PET scans and lumbar punctures, but is significantly more accessible and cheaper.
- The study will recruit 1,100 people from memory clinics across the UK to assess the test's effectiveness in guiding diagnosis and treatment, and its impact on patients.
- Experts anticipate answers within three years, with the potential for the test to be integrated into NHS practice, enabling earlier diagnosis crucial for accessing current and future therapies.