More than 1,000 people across the UK with suspected dementia will be offered a new blood test for Alzheimer’s disease in a landmark trial. Scientists believe the test could revolutionize early diagnosis by boosting accuracy from 70% to over 90%, transforming patient care and treatment access.
A New Approach to Diagnosis
The blood test, costing around £100, measures a biomarker called p-tau217, which reflects the build-up of amyloid and tau proteins associated with Alzheimer’s. These proteins can accumulate in the brain up to 20 years before symptoms appear. Traditionally, diagnosis relied on cognitive tests, which often miss early signs, or costly PET scans and lumbar punctures, procedures that only 2% of patients undergo.
By incorporating this test into routine memory clinic evaluations, researchers hope to detect the disease earlier and improve outcomes for patients and their families.
The ADAPT Trial
The Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis and Plasma p-tau217 (ADAPT) trial, led by University College London and supported by Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Alzheimer’s Society, has begun recruiting participants. The study spans 20 NHS memory clinics across the country. Half of the participants will receive test results within three months, while the others will wait 12 months, allowing researchers to evaluate the impact of early disclosure.
The trial will assess not only diagnostic accuracy but also how blood test results influence patient care decisions, speed of diagnosis, and overall quality of life. Findings are expected within three years, potentially paving the way for the test to become a standard diagnostic tool.
Potential Impact on Families
For many families, earlier and more reliable diagnosis could be life-changing. Steven Pidwill, whose wife Rachel has lived with Alzheimer’s for nearly a decade, described the prospect of an accurate blood test combined with new treatments as a “gamechanger.” He believes such advances could shift public perception, reframing Alzheimer’s as a manageable condition rather than an untouchable stigma.
Patients and families were actively involved in shaping the trial, ensuring the study reflects the real-world needs and experiences of those affected by dementia.
If successful, the blood test could redefine Alzheimer’s diagnosis within the NHS, arriving just as new treatments for early-stage disease near approval. The ADAPT trial represents a critical step toward more timely support, better treatment pathways, and renewed hope for patients and families across the UK.