A BLOOD test that detects Alzheimer’s up to 15 years before symptoms emerge is set to be made free on the NHS within a year. The new test is cheaper, easier and at least as accurate as the current diagnosis options, previous studies have shown. 1 A blood test that detects Alzheimer’s before symptoms emerge is set to be made free on the NHS Credit: Getty It works by measuring levels of a protein in the blood called p-tau217.
The protein is a sign of the devastating disease in the brain caused when tau starts to attack neurons. These proteins can build up 15 years before typical symptoms such as forgetfulness and cognitive decline take hold. The Dementia Research Institute at University College London, which can receive tests from anywhere in the country, says it can analyse 100,000 a year.
UCL scientists have to complete a formal “validation process” for regulators, but they are confident this will be successfully finished by June next year - and believe it could be concluded in seven months. Dementia is the leading cause of death in Britain, and Alzheimer’s is the most common form of the condition, making up one-third of cases. Twelve months is a conservative estimate, it could be by the end of this year.
Dr Ashvini Keshavan University College Lonodn One in three people in England and one in two in Wales with dementia do not have a diagnosis, even though it is the country’s biggest killer, with about 900,000 cases in the UK. More than 944,000 people in the UK have.