Key facts
- A new blood test for Alzheimer's disease is being rolled out in Scotland as part of the BriDGe study.
- Over 50 GP surgeries in Scotland are participating in the BriDGe study.
- The study aims to accelerate Alzheimer's diagnosis and improve patient access to support and treatments.
- The ADAPT study, led by UCL, is evaluating the p-tau217 blood test for diagnosing Alzheimer's.
- The ADAPT trial is part of the multi-million-pound Blood Biomarker Challenge.
- The p-tau217 blood test shows promise in detecting Alzheimer's biomarkers as accurately as PET scans and lumbar punctures.
A landmark study in Scotland is rolling out a new blood test for Alzheimer's disease, offering patients suspected of having the condition the opportunity to receive the test through their general practitioner. The initiative, known as Bringing Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarkers to General Practice (BriDGe), involves more than 50 GP surgeries across central and northern Scotland.
Led by Scottish Brain Sciences, the project aims to explore how these advanced blood tests, specifically p-tau181 and p-tau217, can significantly accelerate diagnosis, empower GPs, and ensure earlier access to support and treatments. The study plans to refer up to 500 patients, establishing it as the largest UK investigation into Alzheimer’s blood tests within a general practice setting. In Scotland, approximately 90,000 people live with dementia, with about 60,000 believed to have Alzheimer's.
Separately, the ADAPT study, led by Professor Jonathan Schott and Dr Ashvini Keshavan at University College London (UCL), is evaluating the p-tau217 blood test for earlier and more accurate Alzheimer's diagnosis. This trial, part of the Blood Biomarker Challenge, has begun recruitment in Essex with 19 additional specialist NHS Centres planned across the UK. The ADAPT study will assess if providing blood test results near the start of an assessment aids diagnosis and guides treatment decisions. The p-tau217 biomarker reflects the presence of amyloid and tau proteins in the brain, showing accuracy comparable to PET scans and lumbar punctures.
Both studies aim to demonstrate the utility of these blood tests in clinical practice, potentially offering a less invasive, more accessible, and cost-effective alternative to current diagnostic methods. This could lead to earlier and more equitable access to diagnosis and future treatments across the NHS.