Currently, the gold standard for diagnosis involves expensive and rarely used tests like PET scans and lumbar punctures, which only 2% of patients undergo.

Professor Schott highlighted that the test could also help differentiate Alzheimer’s from other causes of dementia, such as depression or sleep issues, leading to more targeted treatments.

Britain is testing a new blood test for Alzheimer’s that could revolutionize diagnosis by being more accessible, accurate, and cost-effective.

This blood test measures p-tau217, a protein linked to Alzheimer’s, showing accuracy comparable to PET scans and lumbar punctures, but at a fraction of the cost.

The new blood test offers a promising alternative to current methods, being more accessible and cost-effective, with the potential to transform dementia diagnosis.

The trial involves assessing patients at various stages, with some receiving results within three months and others after a year, to see if early results speed up diagnosis and decision-making.

Improving diagnostic accuracy from about 70% to potentially 90% with this blood test could enable earlier intervention and better patient outcomes.

Given that dementia remains the leading cause of death in the UK and many cases go undiagnosed, this test could have a significant public health impact.

Experts like Professor Jonathan Schott and Dr. Ashvini Keshavan believe this test could facilitate earlier, more widespread diagnosis, crucial for timely treatment.

Costing around £100, the test aims to supplement existing cognitive assessments, which often misdiagnose early-stage Alzheimer’s.

Early and precise diagnosis is vital for accessing treatment, support, and planning, especially with new drugs that can slow disease progression if administered early.

With only about 2% of diagnosed individuals having access to standard tests, this simple blood test could dramatically improve diagnosis rates.