Two revolutionary studies set to bring blood tests for dementia a step closer to NHS
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Alzheimer's Research UK
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On 04 April 2024
How to take part in the Blood Biomarker Challenge
- If you’re interested in taking part in this research, please visit Dementias Platform UK’s website, or get in touch with our Information Services team on infoline@alzheimersresearchuk.org or 0300 111 5 111.
Two expert research teams, one from University College London and the other from Dementias Platform UK at the University of Oxford, will conduct UK-wide clinical trials to identify blood tests to boost dementia diagnosis.
Experts hope that the research will lead to blood tests for diagnosing Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia on the NHS within five years.
Timely and accurate diagnosis of the diseases that cause dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, is crucial, as it means people can access vital care and support and take part in medical research.
This will be even more imperative if new treatments such as lecanemab and donanemab are approved for use in the NHS, as these work best for people in the earliest stage of their disease.
But according to NHS England, less than two-thirds of people in England with dementia have a formal diagnosis. The most recent Memory Assessment Services Audit shows only 2% of people who receive a dementia diagnosis are diagnosed using ‘gold standard’ tests like PET scans and lumbar punctures, which allow diseases like Alzheimer’s to be definitively identified.
Multi-million-pound studies
The research studies, which will begin recruiting participants soon, are funded by the Blood Biomarker Challenge – a multi-million-pound award given by Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society, The National Institute for Health and Care Research, and Gates Ventures (the private office of Bill Gates), including £5m raised by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.
Commenting on the news, Dr Sheona Scales, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK said: “We’ve seen the enormous potential that blood tests are showing for improving the diagnostic process for people and their loved ones in other disease areas. Now we need to see this same step-change in dementia, which is the greatest health challenge facing the UK.’’
In recent years, a number of different blood tests that can diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of dementia have shown very promising results in research studies. But they have yet to be tested widely in ‘real life’ populations in the UK.
Two contrasting approaches
The two studies will take complementary approaches. The READ-OUT study will be led by Dr Vanessa Raymont, Associate Director of Dementias Platform UK and a clinical researcher based at the University of Oxford. Her team will test multiple existing and novel blood tests for a range of types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies. The researchers will also look at whether these blood tests can help detect these diseases at various stages.
“Since I first stepped into a memory clinic 30 years ago there has thankfully been a shift in the way society thinks about dementia,” said Dr Raymont. “There was previously a feeling that this was just another part of aging, but now we’re seeing that people want to know more about their condition and they want a diagnosis as it helps them access the support they need. Both my parents lived with dementia so I know firsthand the devastation this disease causes, and how a timely and accurate diagnosis can benefit people and their families.”
The second study will be led by Prof Jonathan Schott and Dr Ashvini Keshavan, who are both based at University College London. Their study, ADAPT, will focus on the most promising test for Alzheimer’s disease, which measures levels of a protein called p-tau217. This increases in the blood as other proteins build up in the brain during the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers will carry out a clinical trial to see whether measuring p-tau217 in the blood increases the rate of diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease both in people with early dementia. It will also involve those with mild, progressive problems with memory.
“An early, accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is already important, allowing people to access appropriate care and medications,” said Schott, who is Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Chief Medical Officer. “If, as we hope, new treatments that can slow down Alzheimer’s disease become available soon, then this will be vital.”
Building the evidence for NHS use
The dual approach of the research will help boost the chances of providing the evidence needed to allow the blood tests to be validated for use in the NHS, experts said. “It’s fantastic that through collaborating with the leading experts in the dementia community, we can look to bring cutting-edge blood tests for diagnosing dementia within the NHS,” Scales added.
Both teams will recruit participants from sites spread across the country, to ensure their findings are applicable to the whole of the UK’s diverse population.
Experts cautioned that it was still too early to talk about screening people without symptoms. As Dr Charles Marshall, professor of clinical neurology at Queen Mary University of London, told The Times: “These new blood tests are exciting because they could be used in any NHS setting to confirm that someone has an accumulation of the proteins that cause Alzheimer’s disease in their brain. However, we know that many people have a build-up of these proteins in their brain and never develop dementia. We will therefore need to ensure that when they become available, they are used as part of a more thorough assessment … Without this, there is a risk that people are incorrectly given a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease on the basis of a blood test, when they might never develop symptoms of the condition.”
Fiona Carragher, Director of Research and Influence at Alzheimer’s Society said that despite decades of slow progress, “it now feels like we’re on the cusp of a new chapter on how we treat dementia in this country.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins, said: “Tackling this illness is a huge challenge, that’s why we are investing in world-leading trials and working with the NHS to ensure any new treatment can be rolled out safely and rapidly.”
How to take part in the Blood Biomarker Challenge
- If you’re interested in taking part in this research, please visit Dementias Platform UK’s website, or get in touch with our Information Services team on infoline@alzheimersresearchuk.org or 0300 111 5 111.
How the protein p-tau217 relates to dementia, exactly?
Hi Eva, thanks for your question. Tau is a protein that is important for providing structural support to our brain cells. However, in Alzheimer’s disease and other diseases that cause dementia Tau can change shape, making it no longer able to structurally support the brain cell. This can cause brain cells to die, leading to dementia symptoms.
P-tau217 is the scientific term used to describe one type of misfolded tau. Research has shown that P-tau217 can be found in the blood of people with dementia. So, this Blood Biomarker research is investigating if we could use p-tau217 to help diagnose the diseases that cause dementia earlier. You can read more about Tau in our Dementia in Detail information here: https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Dementia-in-Detail-Dec23-web.pdf
How to get on the trial blood test for dementia
Thanks for your question Maureen. If you’re interested in taking part, you can either register your interest on the Dementias Platform UK (https://www.dementiasplatform.uk/), or call our Information Services Team on 0300 111 5 111.
My mum died of end stage dementia in May 2023, how could I get on the trial blood test for dementia.
So sorry to hear about your mum Deborah. You can register your interest in taking part on the Dementias Platform UK (https://www.dementiasplatform.uk/), or call our Information Services Team on 0300 111 5 111.
My mum has had a diagnosis of dementia, her mum also had the diagnosis and her brother, so of course I am concerned for myself and the future so would love to be part of any research for this awful disease. I have signed up but not sure if I’d be included as I live in wales?
Hi Melanie, we’re sorry to hear about your family. It’s great that you have signed up for the blood biomarker trial. There are NHS trusts in Wales that will be involved in this research, so it is possible that you will be included.
If you are interested in taking part in other dementia research studies, you can find out more about that here: https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/research/getting-involved-in-research/
I’ve just registered my interest in taking part in this dementia blood test trial (ADAPT), as I am aware that my memory has started to fail on simple things like names, and words with specific meanings, not to mention events and dates. I’m already involved in the trial of a drug for type 2 diabetes (ASCENDPLUS), so let’s hope they both have good results for mankind.
I have just signed up for the blood trials. My grandmother, Dads mom, had Alzheimer’s. My Mom currently has Alzheimer’s and in a veggitative state, she was initially diagnosed in 2006. Her sister has Alzheimer’s but thankfully what we call the happy kind. My dad’s little sister passed in Nov 2022 of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Needless to say I have quite the concern that I maybe next. Cheers
I too am in the same position my dad has severe dementia/ alzheimers and my mum has alzheimers my dads sister my mums sister has it too .I have been told that my nan had it also so im worried that I too could be carrying the gene and I have asked my doctor if they will let me have a blood test done at my local hospital, I have 2 sons and i would like to be prepared. I want to make/put my own decisions in place .
Hi Partricia, thanks for your comment. It’s worth remembering that although the chances of developing Alzheimer’s are increased with two copies of APOE4, every person’s risk of developing dementia is made up of a complex mixture of factors. There are things we can all do to help reduce this risk, whether or not we have inherited one or two copies of the gene. Find out more on our Think Brain Health hub: https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/brain-health/think-brain-health/?psafe_param=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8e-gBhD0ARIsAJiDsaWlt3Wfjl5cPVgPDGTSalxeepE1HeOF-MW3g7qMezRvF2sc_ck-id8aAje3EALw_wcB
What the names of the plasma p-tau217 tests ?
Hi A, thank you for your comment. The study that will aim to detect p-tau217 is called ADAPT. The researchers will carry out a clinical trial to see whether measuring p-tau217 in the blood increases the rate of diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease both in people with early dementia
Hi, my mum had Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia and my aunt , who is my mum’s sister has Alzheimer’s disease, I would very much welcome to be on the trial and have my bloods taken and be tested for p-tau217, and anything else too, as it’s a devastating disease and horrible to watch your loved one go through it, have submitted the application on your platform too,
I would like to be on the trial. My Mum died nearly three years ago after a long battle with Frontotemporal Dementia. She was far too young. My Dad also passed away recently and he had the start of dementia. Anything to combat this horrible disease is most welcome.
Hi Krysta, thank you for your comment. I’m sorry to hear about your parents. You can register your interest in taking part in the Blood Biomarker study here: https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/oxford/blood-biomarker-challenge-round-two
You can also register your interest in taking part in other dementia research studies at joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk
Does this apply in Northern Ireland?
Hi William, thank you for your question.
The READ-OUT study will begin recruiting in Belfast soon. To register your interest in taking part in the Blood Biomarker Challenge specifically, please visit the Dementia Platforms UK website here: https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/oxford/blood-biomarker-challenge
There may be other studies in Northern Ireland that you can take part in. The best way to find out about this is through an NHS service called Join Dementia Research. You can find out more on our website: https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/research/getting-involved-in-research/
If you would prefer to talk to someone and sign up over the phone, you can give us a call on 0300 111 5111.