Finger-Prick Blood Test Explored for Early Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

A single drop of blood could one day unlock early detection of Alzheimer’s disease, transforming how the world confronts this irreversible condition.

A multinational study is testing a finger-prick blood test to diagnose Alzheimer’s years before symptoms, led by LifeArc, the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation, and the UK Dementia Research Institute.

The trial involves 883 of 1,000 planned participants, including cognitively normal individuals, those with mild cognitive impairment, and patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.

Researchers are analyzing three proteins (phosphorylated tau 217, glial fibrillary acidic protein, neurofilament light) in dried blood samples collected via a plasma separation card. This method eliminates the need for traditional venipuncture, reducing costs and logistical barriers to testing.

Giovanna Lalli said:

"Over the last five years, there has been substantial progress in identifying blood-based biomarkers to identify people at high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease before their symptoms present. Developing cheaper, scalable and more accessible tests is vital in the battle against this devastating condition."

Prof. Henrik Zetterberg said:

"If successful, being able to diagnose Alzheimer’s with a minimally invasive, cost-effective method will revolutionize diagnostics in this area and pave the way for improved diagnosis of all neurodegenerative conditions."

The study emphasizes equity, with 30% of participants from under-represented groups. No independent expert commentary was included in the source.

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