A major international research initiative is exploring whether a simple finger-prick blood test could be used to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms appear. The trial focuses on three specific proteins in the blood that are linked to Alzheimer’s and will compare these results with the current gold standard diagnostic methods, which rely on costly brain scans and invasive procedures that are not easily accessible to many patients. The finger-prick method uses a plasma separation card, making it inexpensive, easy to handle, and suitable for storage and shipment at room temperature without the need for refrigeration. If successful, this approach could provide a scalable, accessible, and cost-effective way to screen for Alzheimer’s disease, enabling earlier intervention and offering a better chance to slow disease progression or delay the onset of symptoms.

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The study is part of the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation Bio-Hermes-002 trial, which aims to advance diagnosis using both blood and digital biomarkers. The trial is a collaboration between GAP, the non-profit medical research organization LifeArc, and the UK Dementia Research Institute Biomarker Factory. So far, 883 of the 1000 planned participants have been enrolled at 25 sites across the UK, USA, and Canada. Participants include cognitively normal individuals, people with mild cognitive impairment, and those with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Over 360 participants have completed the test to date.

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Each blood sample will be analyzed for phosphorylated tau 217 (pTau217), Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and Neurofilament light polypeptide (NfL). The results will be compared with other blood-based and digital biomarker tests such as retinal scans, cognitive assessments, and speech tests, as well as the conventional PET and MRI scans. Currently, Alzheimer’s diagnosis often requires expensive imaging or spinal taps, which are invasive, slow, and difficult to access in many regions.

Dr Giovanna Lalli, Director of Strategy and Operations at LifeArc, said that recent advancements in blood-based biomarkers have made it possible to identify individuals at high risk of Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear. She emphasized that developing affordable and widely accessible tests is crucial to improving patient care. She added that a finger-prick test could allow more patients to access new treatments that slow disease progression at an early stage. John Dwyer, President of GAP, highlighted that the new dried blood spot test has the potential to transform diagnosis by making it available to a broader population, including those with limited access to specialized care, and praised LifeArc’s role in advancing the Bio-Hermes-002 trial.

Professor Henrik Zetterberg, Lead of the Biomarker Factory at the UK Dementia Research Institute, said the study is notable for its size and diversity, with 30 percent of participants coming from underrepresented groups. He emphasized that if the finger-prick test proves accurate, it could revolutionize how Alzheimer’s is diagnosed and pave the way for earlier detection of other neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr Michael Sandberg, a GP in London, shared his personal connection to the research. His mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and he witnessed the challenges of her decline. Participation in a clinical trial run by Re:Cognition Health gave his mother more time with a sense of self. He expressed hope that the Bio-Hermes-002 study could allow others to be screened early and avoid the need for costly or invasive testing. Dr Emer MacSweeney, CEO and Medical Director at Re:Cognition Health, added that early, accurate biomarkers are essential because new Alzheimer’s treatments are most effective when administered at the earliest stages of the disease.

While further evidence is required before such a test can be adopted in the NHS, the Bio-Hermes-002 trial aims to validate this innovative finger-prick method in a large and internationally diverse population. If successful, it could transform early Alzheimer’s detection and improve access to treatments globally.

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