A breakthrough blood test launching in Britain on December 2, 2024 could dramatically cut waiting times for an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis from months to weeks.

The LucentAD Trademark Complete Test, developed by advanced diagnostics company Advance Tests, analyzes multiple biomarkers (including p-Tau 217) from a single blood sample, detecting amyloid pathology — the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease — with 90% accuracy.

For just £695 (approx. $878.42), individuals will receive results in 15 days — a significant improvement on the costly, and often lengthy, diagnostic process that is currently available.

The test’s UK arrival comes at a crucial moment. While treatments like Leqembi, recently approved in the U.S. for early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, are not yet available in the UK, four treatments are: donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine and memantine. Early diagnosis is critical for earlier treatment and, ultimately, better outcomes.

Starting December 2nd, the LucentAD Trademark Complete Test will be available at Advance Tests’ clinic on St Thomas Street near Guy’s Hospital. However, Advance Tests hopes to expand its offerings. Book directly or through your healthcare provider at via www.advancetests.com.

Britain’s Crisis in Memory Services

While the availability of this Alzheimer’s blood test is promising, it also reflects a stark picture of Britain’s diagnostic and treatment challenges in this space.

I mentioned Leqembi earlier, which was just recently approved in the United States. The UK’s medicine regulator has yet to evaluate new Alzheimer’s drugs, leaving British patients with limited therapeutic options even after diagnosis.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, a UK-based charity that is working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives, the estimated Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis rate in England is 65.2% as of July 2024 — falling below the national target of 66.7%. In Wales and Ireland, diagnosis rates are even lower — 56% and 55%, respectively.

This bottleneck stems from:

• Inadequate data on diagnostics and diagnostic criteria
• Limited availability of more advanced (and expensive) diagnostic tools
• Lack of healthcare access
• Timing difficulties (inability to take off of work for appointments, inability to travel to see specialists)

Britain faces mounting pressure to resolve these diagnostic challenges. The UK will see an estimated 42% increase in dementia cases by 2040, while NHS capacity grows at just about 2% annually per person when adjusted for population growth. This widening gap between need and capacity drives both private investment and public concern.

Still, the arrival of blood-based testing marks a potential turning point in Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Whether this advance helps address the growing crisis in dementia care may depend less on the technology itself and more on Britain’s ability to develop healthcare systems that can deliver its benefits equitably.

Alzheimer’s Resources

If you or a loved one has Alzheimer’s disease, you are not alone. Here are some helpful resources for you on this journey:

• Alzheimer’s Research UK: Learn more about dementia information, research, reducing your risk, and other ways to get involved.
• Alzheimer’s Society: Beyond its extensive collection of information, resources, and research, the Alzheimer’s Society offers support services, a dementia support line, and an online community.
• Alzheimer’s Association: While the Alzheimer’s Association is global, they do offer UK-specific information, resources, and community.