More than 1,000 people across the UK with suspected dementia are to be offered a blood test for Alzheimer’s disease which it is hoped could revolutionise diagnosis of the disease.The blood test can detect biomarkers for rogue proteins which accumulate in the brains of patients with the condition and will be used in addition to pen and paper cognitive tests, which frequently enough misdiagnose it in its early stages.
Scientists leading the trial at University College London believe the blood test will improve the accuracy of diagnosis from 70% to more than 90% and want to see how that helps patients and clinicians.
Patients will be recruited at 20 memory clinics as part of the study, which aims to see## Blood Test Could Revolutionize Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
BBC NewsJonathan Schott, professor of neurology at University College London and chief medical officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK said he was “thrilled” to welcome participants onto the ADAPT trial.
He described the trial as “a critical part of the Blood Biomarker Challenge, which we hope will take us a step forward in revolutionising the way we diagnose dementia.”
Half the participants in the study will receive their blood tests results within three months while the others will be told after 12 months.
The study team will establish whether providing results earlier helps speed up diagnosis, guides decisions about further investigations, and influences how both patients and doctors interpret and respond to the results.
The impact of blood test results on quality of life will also be measured.
If the trial is deemed successful, the blood test could become a standard part of Alzheimer’s diagnosis. This will be crucial in years to come as a raft of new drugs to combat early-stage disease are in the final stages of clinical trials.
## ‘Gamechanger’