University of Exeter Leads Breakthrough in At-Home Dementia Detection

A groundbreaking study from the University of Exeter Medical School has demonstrated that a simple finger prick blood test, combined with online cognitive assessments, could revolutionise early detection of dementia risk. Conducted as part of the long-running PROTECT online research platform, the research involved participants collecting tiny blood samples at home using specialised dried blood spot cards, which were then mailed to laboratories for analysis. This approach measures key proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease—the most common form of dementia—offering a scalable, non-invasive alternative to traditional diagnostic methods that often require hospital visits, lumbar punctures, or expensive brain scans.

The study builds on previous work validating finger prick sampling for dementia biomarkers and marks a significant step towards accessible screening for the nearly one million people living with dementia in the UK today. With diagnosis rates hovering around 66 percent, many individuals with early warning signs never receive timely checks, delaying interventions that could slow progression or improve quality of life.

The Growing Dementia Challenge in the United Kingdom

Dementia affects over 982,000 people in the UK, a figure projected to rise sharply as the population ages—one in three individuals born today could develop the condition in their lifetime. Alzheimer's accounts for 60-70 percent of cases, characterised by the buildup of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, leading to progressive memory loss, cognitive decline, and impaired daily functioning.

Current diagnosis relies on clinical assessments, cognitive tests like the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and confirmatory scans such as PET imaging for amyloid or tau proteins. However, these are resource-intensive: lumbar punctures for cerebrospinal fluid analysis are invasive, venous blood draws require phlebotomy expertise, and imaging costs thousands per patient. Only about two-thirds of cases are diagnosed, with rural areas and underserved communities facing even greater barriers. Early detection is crucial, as lifestyle changes, new drugs like lecanemab, and cognitive therapies show most promise in mild stages.

Understanding Key Blood Biomarkers for Dementia

At the heart of this innovation are three plasma biomarkers: phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light chain (NfL). P-tau217 is highly specific to Alzheimer's pathology, reflecting abnormal tau protein hyperphosphorylation that forms neurofibrillary tangles disrupting neuronal communication. Elevated levels predict amyloid positivity and cognitive decline years before symptoms.

GFAP indicates astrocytic activation—a sign of neuroinflammation and brain injury—often linked to vascular factors like hypertension or heart disease. NfL measures axonal damage across neurodegenerative conditions, serving as a general marker of neuronal loss. Unlike broad markers, p-tau217 excels in distinguishing Alzheimer's from other dementias, with studies showing over 90 percent accuracy against PET scans.

These proteins, once detectable only in cerebrospinal fluid or venous plasma, are now quantifiable in minute capillary blood volumes from finger pricks, thanks to ultrasensitive assays like Simoa (single molecule array) technology.

Step-by-Step: How the Finger Prick Test Works

The process is user-friendly, designed for self-administration:

• Kit Delivery: Participants receive a home collection kit with lancets, alcohol wipes, collection cards (Capitainer B50 or SEP10), and instructions.
• Sample Collection: Warm hands, prick fingertip, apply 4-6 drops (70 microlitres) to the card, which dries and stabilises proteins.
• Online Cognitive Tests: Via the PROTECT platform, complete 10-15 minute assessments measuring memory (paired associates), attention (simple/choice reaction time), and executive function (pair matching).
• Mailing: Place dried card in prepaid envelope; lab extracts, dilutes, and analyses via immunoassay within days.
• Results: Biomarkers quantified in picograms per millilitre, correlated with cognitive scores for risk profiling.

Over 80 percent of participants in the study completed it independently, rating it highly feasible.

Study Design and Participant Insights from PROTECT

Leveraging the PROTECT study—a collaboration between University of Exeter and King's College London tracking over 30,000 adults aged 40+ online—the research enrolled 226 individuals, with 174 (77 percent) returning viable samples. Participants spanned cognitively healthy older adults and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild-moderate dementia, recruited via primary/secondary care in South West UK.

A subset provided matched venous blood, confirming strong correlations (r=0.70-0.74). Functional status was assessed via Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale and Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE). Statistical models used Spearman's correlations, ROC curves (area under curve up to 0.90), and logistic regression to link biomarkers to outcomes.

Key Findings: Biomarker-Cognition Correlations

P-tau217 strongly associated with episodic memory (r=-0.30), attention (r=-0.20), executive function (r=-0.19), IADL (r=-0.29), and IQCODE (r=-0.24)—all p<0.001. At 85 percent specificity thresholds, it flagged 26 percent as high-risk, distinguishing dementia from controls (AUC=0.66).

GFAP linked to working memory, executive function, and IADL (r=-0.18 to -0.23), with vascular ties (OR=4.9 for heart disease). Combined p-tau217 and poor memory identified 9 percent high-risk group with markedly worse cognition/function (AUC=0.79-0.90). Dual markers enhanced triage accuracy.

Venous-capillary equivalence validated remote sampling, paving way for population screening.

NIHR Funding and University of Exeter's Pivotal Role

Funded by the NIHR Exeter Biomedical Research Centre, NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Brain Health, and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South West, the project exemplifies UK public investment in translational neuroscience. University of Exeter, a leader in dementia prevention via PROTECT, integrates big data, genetics, and digital tools—housing Europe's largest online cognitive cohort.

Prof Anne Corbett noted: “This work raises the potential for screening people for their risk without the need for clinic visits or complex clinical assessments.” Such university-led initiatives drive UK's National Dementia Mission, aiming to diagnose 66.7 percent by 2025 (achieved ~66 percent).

Overcoming Limitations of Traditional Dementia Tests

Compared to gold standards:

This method matches venous accuracy while slashing barriers, ideal for primary care triage.

Upcoming Trials and Broader Research Pipeline

The DROP-AD trial, led by LifeArc with NIHR support, tests finger-prick diagnostics pre-symptoms across Europe. Bio-Hermes-002 explores global scalability. Exeter's PROTECT continues longitudinal tracking, linking biomarkers to lifestyle/genetics for prevention strategies.

Challenges remain: standardisation, cut-offs for diverse populations, and integration into NHS pathways. Yet, 78 percent participant willingness signals readiness.

Public Health Implications and Early Intervention

Earlier risk ID enables targeted interventions: Mediterranean diet, exercise, Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet reduce risk 35-53 percent. Drugs like donanemab target amyloid in mild stages. For UK, scaling could boost diagnosis to 80 percent, saving billions in care costs (dementia £42bn/year).

Stakeholders: Alzheimer's Research UK praises scalability; Dr Sheona Scales: “Finger-prick tests could revolutionise dementia diagnosis.”

Universities Driving UK Dementia Innovation

Exeter exemplifies: PROTECT yields 100+ papers yearly, informing policy. Collaborations with KCL, Gothenburg advance biomarkers. Amid NIHR's £1bn+ dementia investment, universities train researchers, host trials—vital for 1.6m cases by 2040.

Explore research jobs advancing brain health.

Future Outlook: Towards Routine At-Home Screening

This Exeter-NIHR innovation heralds a triage era: GPs flag risks remotely, prioritising scans/treatments. Ethical: equitable access, false positives counselling. By 2030, integrated apps could monitor longitudinally.

Optimism tempers caution—larger trials confirm utility. UK academia positions ahead globally.

Photo by Google DeepMind on Unsplash