Simple at-home test can help predict Alzheimer's risk, says study

An at-home test can help predict a person's risk of getting Alzheimer's, according to a new study.

It involves an online brain assessment and a finger-prick blood test to look for markers linked to the disease.

Academics say it could "triage" people according to risk, who could then get more testing and treatment.

Professor Anne Corbett, from the University of Exeter Medical School, said their work built on previous research showing the effectiveness of a finger-prick test.

She said the biomarkers and brain tests together provide "a potential way to predict risk of dementia".

Prof Corbett said it had the potential to effectively screen people without the need for a clinic visit or complex tests.

"It would ensure the people at highest risk could be prioritised for monitoring and diagnosis, unlocking the best support and treatment for those that need it most," she added.

More than 170 people were involved in the study.

They submitted a blood test which looked for the p-tau217 and GFAP biomarkers, which are linked to Alzheimer's and brain decline, and also did online brain tests.

"Almost a million people in the UK are estimated to have dementia, yet at the moment, only one in 1,000 people with the earliest signs of brain decline receives a specialist evaluation," said Exeter's Professor Clive Ballard, who was also involved in the study.

He said the combination test could offer a cost-effective and straightforward way to identify large numbers of people at risk of Alzheimer's.

Prof Ballard also urged over-40s to join the online Protect study, which involves more than 30,000 adults taking regular tests for abilities linked to memory, attention and decision making.

Alzheimer Research UK's research director, Dr Sheona Scales, said the test showed great potential and that "larger and more diverse" studies were now needed.

"Finger-prick blood tests could revolutionise dementia diagnosis - they offer a low-cost, scalable way to identify people who may be at higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and who should be offered further checks," she said.

"The results suggest the test can detect changes in a blood biomarker linked to Alzheimer's disease and cognitive difficulties, with a high level of sensitivity.

"As an early step in the diagnostic pathway, this kind of self-administered test could give reassurance to some people, while helping others move more quickly towards follow-up tests and support."

The study is published in the journal Nature Communications.

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