New Blood Test Could Diagnose Dementia, Promising NHS Availability
Blood tests for dementia may soon be available on the NHS, thanks to a large study seeking faster diagnosis.
Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, Blood Test, Diagnosis, NHS, Alzheimer’s Society, UK, Oxford, Cambridge, Warneford Hospital, Oxfordshire, University College London
The Blood Biomarker Challenge aims for NHS dementia tests. It builds upon recent discoveries by scientists. Researchers will gather evidence to support test use. This project involves many organizations. They want to improve dementia diagnosis methods.
About a million UK people have dementia. A third are undiagnosed at this time. Early diagnosis means better access to care. This study could revolutionize future testing. Science and the NHS are making progress. People need a diagnosis for treatment. This study gets us closer to that goal.
The READ-OUT team is part of this challenge. They are based at Oxford and Cambridge. Participants visit Warneford Hospital in Oxford. Experts there include Professors Raymont and Rowe. Dr. Koychev and DPUK researchers are also involved.
The team studies new and existing blood tests. They look at Alzheimer’s, vascular, and other dementias. The test may detect different dementia types. They plan to hire over 3,100 people across all four nations. Participants come from NHS clinics. The trial tests if blood tests can reach the NHS.
Professor Raymont says this is an exciting time. New drugs slow early Alzheimer’s disease. Still, the NHS hasn’t approved these medicines. We need better ways to diagnose people faster. It would be terrible if they can’t use new drugs. Many people prefer the accuracy of blood tests.
Raymont says testing UK populations is key. They want to understand factors that affect results. They will study various blood tests. The goal is to include diverse people. This helps ensure the test works for everyone, covering many groups and conditions.
Another team will focus on the Alzheimer’s biomarker p-tau217. Professors Schott and Keshavan lead this team, known as the ADAPT team at University College London. This protein links to Alzheimer’s in the brain.
The team will test if p-tau217 boosts early diagnosis rates. This includes people with early dementia and those with mild memory issues. The ADAPT team expects their first participants soon. The approaches aim to prove blood tests are ready. They hope for NHS availability within five years.
Stephanie Everill is taking part in the trials. She is 67 and from Oxfordshire. She got diagnosed having mild cognitive decline one year prior. Her mother had Alzheimer’s disease beforehand.
Scans showed possible Alzheimer’s, but not fully diagnosed. She is getting forgetful. She hopes this study leads to quicker diagnoses and faster access to treatments.
Dementia symptoms are different for each person. Early signs include memory loss, such as trouble recalling recent events. It can cause difficulty concentrating, planning or organizing. Another sign is language issues, including a difficulty in understanding.
It causes some to have confusion by misunderstanding distances. Many become confused about time or place they are in currently. They can even have drastic mood changes. As dementia progresses, symptoms often get worse.
Some people show aggressive behavior and some wander. Others lack insight into their changes. They also experience sleep problems. Delusions, or false beliefs, can also develop.