A world-class research team at UCL led by UK DRI Co-Investigator Prof Jonathan Schott, and Dr Ashvini Keshavan, will carry out a countrywide trial to identify accurate and quick blood tests that can diagnose dementia. The team will work closely with the UK DRI Biomarker Factory, led by Prof Henrik Zetterberg and Dr Amanda Heslegrave, to validate the tests.
The ADAPT (Alzheimer’s disease Diagnosis And Plasma pTau217) team will focus on the most promising biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease, called p-tau217. This reflects levels of amyloid and tau in the brain.
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, but also in those with mild, progressive problems with memory.
Prof Jonathan Schott, Alzheimer’s Research UK Chief Medical Officer and Professor of Neurology, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, said:
“An early, accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is already important, allowing people access to appropriate care and medications. If, as we hope, new treatments that can slow down Alzheimer’s disease become available soon, then this will be vital. This would pave the way for fair and equitable access to new and potentially life-changing treatments to all who might benefit.”
The team is funded by the Blood Biomarker Challenge - a multi-million pound award by Alzheimer’s Society, Alzheimer’s Research UK and the National Institute for Health and Research and Gates Ventures including £5m raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
