Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a progressive brain disorder that impairs memory, thinking and behaviour. It occurs when abnormal proteins, notably amyloid and tau, accumulate in the brain, often years before symptoms appear. Traditionally, diagnosis has relied on specialised brain PET scans or lumbar punctures to analyse cerebrospinal fluid, techniques that are expensive, invasive and not widely available.

The finger-prick approach offers a less invasive alternative by analysing blood for three proteins associated with Alzheimer’s pathology. These blood-based biomarkers could indicate whether a person is at increased risk of developing the disease, and future developments may allow the test to be done at home with samples mailed to a lab.

Dr Michael Sandberg, a London GP taking part in the trial, said he was motivated to join after witnessing his mother’s decline from Alzheimer’s. After undergoing both traditional tests and the new finger-prick test, his results were negative, a “huge relief,” he said, underscoring the personal and scientific significance of accessible testing.

Dr Giovanna Lalli, director of strategy and operations at medical research charity LifeArc, which is leading the trial with the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation, explained that researchers are analysing levels of key proteins in the blood to determine whether the test can reliably indicate Alzheimer’s risk. If validated, the method could help overcome barriers to early diagnosis and support broader participation in research.

The trial’s results, expected after all volunteers complete their assessments, will be crucial in evaluating whether this finger-prick test can complement or replace current diagnostic pathways, offering a quicker, cheaper and more accessible tool for identifying Alzheimer’s disease.