Alzheimer’s diagnosis set to speed up with ‘revolutionary’ blood test trial

The National Health Services (NHS) has announced plans to launch a “revolutionary” blood test trial that could be a major breakthrough in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

In the clinical trial, around 1000 people grappling with dementia will participate in the study conducted in the NHS.

The transformative blood test will measure a protein p-tau217 associated with neurodegenerative disease, thereby reducing time and saving money in diagnosis.

According to research, the test could accurately detect proteins on a par with current methods, including lumbar punctures and amyloid PET scans.

Researchers at University College London (UCL) will further research on the potential success of the test in improving Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

According to Professor Jonathan Schott, professor of neurology at UCL, “We now have a blood test for Alzheimer’s disease that is backed by strong scientific evidence and provides comparable information to other gold-standard diagnostic tests, such as PET scans and lumbar punctures, yet is far more accessible and cheaper.”

In the UK, more than half a million people suffer from Alzheimer's, which is the common form of dementia. Unfortunately, around a third of people have been deprived of proper diagnostic facilities.

Only 2 percent of patients get the chance of diagnosis based on lumber puncture and PET scan.