New Alzheimer’s blood test could revolutionize its diagnosis

A new Alzheimer’s blood test aims to go where Elizabeth Holmes only dreamed. Scientists at University College London are launching a first-of-its-kind trial that aims to sign up 1,000+ patients for a blood test that aims to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease.

• The blood test measures the presence of two rogue proteins that silently build up in the brain decades before symptoms of Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, begin to show.
• Early studies suggest it can diagnose the disease with accuracy above 90%, at a price tag of just $110, with results expected within three months.

Why it’s a big deal

Previously, the only way to confirm an Alzheimer’s diagnosis was with specialist PET brain scans, which run between $5,000–$8,000 in the US, or a lumbar puncture to extract cerebrospinal fluid, a painful procedure with a price tag north of $1,000.

• Recent surveys show only a third of Americans with dementia felt their experience of the diagnosis process was positive, while many reported being afraid of receiving a diagnosis.
• Experts say the results indicate many patients never get a clear diagnosis until it’s too late for meaningful treatment.

Closer to home: US regulators in May approved a similar Alzheimer’s blood test, called Lumipulse, that costs between $500–$1,200, with results delivered in just a few days. Insurance coverage is still being sorted out, but experts hope it will soon be more widely available.