Blood Biomarker Challenge to 'Revolutionize' Dementia Diagnosis

With approximately a third of the UK population living with undiagnosed dementia, there is an urgent need to improve both the speed and accuracy of diagnoses. Current diagnostic methods such as brain scans and lumbar punctures are not only time-consuming and uncomfortable but are also not consistently available across dementia services in the UK. A biomarker is a measurable indicator of a person’s health that can be assessed through blood tests. Blood-based biomarkers could provide a cost-effective, accurate, and non-invasive tool to transform dementia diagnosis. These biomarkers are set to play a crucial role in speeding up the dementia diagnosis process. Researchers are developing tests to detect two proteins—amyloid and tau—that accumulate in the brain in Alzheimer’s disease. When found in blood, these proteins could indicate their presence in the brain as well. As amyloid and tau build up in the brain, the body attempts to clear them, which can result in their presence in spinal fluid, the protective liquid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. This fluid is connected to the bloodstream through the brain-blood barrier.

While Alzheimer’s disease blood tests have already been extensively researched, showing they can accurately diagnose the disease and distinguish it from other types of dementia, they have not yet been tested in diverse UK patient groups. This lack of evidence prevents their integration into the NHS, and more research is needed to confirm their clinical applicability in the UK. Now, Alzheimer’s Society (Plymouth, UK) is working toward introducing dementia blood tests to the NHS within five years through the Blood Biomarker Challenge, a GBP 5 million initiative aimed at revolutionizing dementia diagnosis in the UK. The collaborative project will test existing and new dementia blood tests across various dementia types, with one team focusing on p-tau217, a promising biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease. Both teams will evaluate how well these blood tests can detect the disease at different stages.

Image: Blood-based biomarkers could be a cost-effective, accurate and non-invasive diagnostic tool for dementia (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

With new treatments like lecanemab and donanemab on the horizon for people with early Alzheimer’s disease, it is essential to prepare the NHS to ensure these drugs are available to all eligible patients. Early diagnosis is key to this, enabling patients to access support, participate in clinical trials, and benefit from new treatments as they become available. For blood tests to be used in clinical practice, they must meet the same high standards of sensitivity and specificity as current spinal fluid tests. The Blood Biomarker Challenge aims to gather the necessary evidence to demonstrate that blood tests for dementia-related diseases are accurate for patients with suspected dementia in the UK.

“New drugs targeting early-stage Alzheimer’s disease are just around the corner,” said Fiona Carragher, Director of Research and Influencing, Alzheimer’s Society. "But without a diagnosis, people simply won’t be able to access them if they are approved. This could absolutely revolutionize the way dementia is diagnosed."

Related Links:
Alzheimer's Society