A simple finger prick could soon play a major role in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. New research shows that key warning signs can be detected from a few drops of blood collected at home and posted to a laboratory. Scientists say this approach could greatly expand access to testing, especially in regions where brain scans or spinal fluid tests are unavailable or unaffordable.
Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia worldwide and currently affects tens of millions of people, a number expected to more than double by 2050 as populations age.
The new study, published in Nature Medicine, tested whether a few drops of blood from a fingertip, dried on a card and mailed to a lab, could reveal proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease and related brain changes. In total, 337 people at seven medical centres across Europe used the finger prick method themselves, without needing help from researchers, showing the procedure is practical and acceptable.
Researchers reported that levels of the Alzheimer biomarker p tau217 in these dried samples closely matched those found in standard blood draws, and agreed with spinal fluid results in 86 per cent of cases. Two other markers associated with brain damage, GFAP and NfL, also showed strong agreement, suggesting the method can capture a broader picture of brain health.
Study lead Nicholas Ashton, of the University of Gothenburg and Banner Sun Health Research Institute in Arizona, said that “we’re opening doors to research that was previously impossible – studying diverse populations, conducting large-scale screening studies, and including communities that have been historically underrepresented in Alzheimer’s studies”. Anne Corbett, Professor in Dementia Research at the University of Exeter, added that what excites her most is how much more accessible this makes brain health research, noting that “this isn’t just a technical advancement; it’s a paradigm shift in how we conduct neuroscience research.”
At present, confirming Alzheimer’s disease usually requires brain imaging or analysis of spinal fluid, which are accurate but invasive and expensive. New blood tests that detect proteins such as p tau217 are emerging as highly reliable alternatives, but still depend on trained staff and temperature controlled storage.