Alzheimer’s disease detection could be quite literally at our fingertips.

A major international research project is underway at the U.K. Dementia Research Institute (DRI) to test whether a finger prick-style blood test could be used to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, even before symptoms begin. 

The test is being run as part of the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation (GAP)’s Bio-Hermes-002 study, and funded by LifeArc. Researchers at the UK DRI’s Biomarker Factory at UCL, led by Prof. and Group Leader Henrik Zetterberg, will be analyzing the tests.

The finger prick test uses a simple plasma separation card that makes testing cheaper and easier to conduct. It does not need to be refrigerated and can be stored and shipped to a laboratory for analysis at ambient temperature.

Alzheimer’s is currently detected using expensive scans and lumbar punctures or spinal taps. This can be invasive, costly, slow, and inaccessible for those living in areas with limited healthcare infrastructure. 

“This study is unique in its size and scope, with 30% of volunteers being recruited from under-represented groups,” Zetterberg said. “Importantly, the results will be compared against current gold standard diagnostic techniques. If successful, being able to diagnose Alzheimer’s with a minimally invasive, cost-effective method will revolutionize diagnostics in this area and pave the way for improved diagnosis of all neurodegenerative conditions.”

Researchers will test for three known biomarkers for Alzheimer’s—phosphorylated tau 217(pTau217), Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and Neurofilament light polypeptide (NfL)—and compare the results with various other tests being developed for Alzheimer’s, including blood-based and digital biomarkers (i.e., speech tests, retinal scans, cognitive tests) as well as the gold standard PET scans and MRI scans. If successful, the test could offer a scalable, accessible and cost-effective way to screen for the disease, and enable earlier intervention.

To date, GAP has enrolled 883 of 1,000 participants from 25 sites across the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada. The study cohort includes a mix of cognitively normal people, those with mild cognitive impairment, and some with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Of the total in this group, more than 360 have completed the test.

“Over the last five years, there has been substantial progress in identifying blood-based biomarkers to identify people at high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease before their symptoms present. Developing cheaper, scalable and more accessible tests is vital in the battle against this devastating condition,” LifeArc Director of Strategy and Operations Dr. Giovanna Lalli stated. “We are committed to improving patient lives through the development of new tests and treatments, and we are excited about the prospect of a finger-prick blood test for Alzheimer’s disease because it will allow more patients to access new drugs, currently being developed, to slow disease progression in its early stages.”

Further evidence is still needed before a blood test can be introduced into the NHS, but the Bio-Hermes-002 study aims to validate this new finger prick-based approach in a large-scale, internationally diverse population. The trial is expected to be completed in 2028.

“The introduction of the advanced dried blood spot test is highly anticipated and LifeArc’s involvement will significantly enhance our study,” GAP President John Dwyer concluded. “Using a simple blood test has the potential to revolutionize diagnosis by making a timely diagnosis accessible to more people, including those who have limited access to specialized healthcare. We look forward to LifeArc’s contribution to the Bio-Hermes-002 trial.”