Blood test for Alzheimer's rolled out as part of 'landmark' study
A blood test which could detect early signs of Alzheimer's is being rolled out to patients via their GP as part of a "landmark" study.
By Sky News
A new blood test that can detect early signs of Alzheimer’s disease is now being offered to patients through their GP as part of a major UK study described as “landmark” by researchers . The test measures levels of a protein called MTBR-tau243 in the blood, which accurately reflects the buildup of toxic tau aggregates in the brain and correlates with disease severity .
In trials, the test distinguished between early- and later-stage Alzheimer’s and separated Alzheimer’s patients from those with similar symptoms caused by other conditions, with 92% accuracy . The rollout allows primary care doctors to diagnose Alzheimer’s with nearly the same accuracy as specialist dementia clinics, a significant step toward expanding access to early diagnosis for millions .
In one real-world study involving over 1,300 patients and 165 physicians, GP diagnostic accuracy rose from 65% to 93% after receiving blood test results . The study is being conducted in the UK and is one of the first to bring this type of blood-based biomarker testing into routine primary care settings .
Results were reported at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2026 in London . Blood biomarkers should not be used for general population screening and must be interpreted alongside a full clinical assessment .
A positive result suggests amyloid pathology is likely but does not by itself confirm a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease .