Highly Accurate Universal Diagnostic Blood Test Detects Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment

An international team led by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST, Hong Kong) has developed an innovative blood test that can detect AD and MCI early with remarkable accuracy rates of over 96% and 87%, respectively. This test is effective across different ethnic groups, providing a universal solution for diagnosing and managing AD. In a multinational study with participants from Chinese and European backgrounds, the research team confirmed the test's effectiveness in distinguishing individuals with AD and MCI from those without cognitive impairments, as well as its ability to detect brain amyloid pathology. The findings underscore the test’s potential for broad application across various ethnic and regional groups.

Unlike current blood tests that typically focus on a single biomarker to indicate brain pathology, this new test measures levels of 21 proteins simultaneously. This approach reveals alterations in multiple critical biological pathways, leading to more precise classification of AD and MCI, and better monitoring of disease progression. By providing a comprehensive AD profile for each individual, this test paves the way for personalized treatment strategies, known as precision medicine, potentially revolutionizing AD diagnosis and management.

"Our blood test heralds a new era of simple, effective, and less invasive diagnostics, and by expanding the scope of our research to include diverse populations, we have taken a crucial step towards making our test a universally applicable tool for AD diagnosis," said Prof. Nancy IP from HKUST who led the team. "Our test can also be used to screen suitable individuals for specific drug treatments in clinical studies, and closely monitor disease progression and drug responses. In the future, it may also facilitate the development of personalized treatments, by shedding light on the molecular underpinnings of AD that vary from person to person and between ethnicities."

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