Overview

• UCL’s ADAPT trial is recruiting 1,100 people through about 20 NHS memory clinics, with half receiving blood test results within three months and half after 12 months to measure effects on timelines, further investigations and quality of life.
• The assay measures plasma p‑tau217 as a proxy for amyloid and tau, with researchers reporting performance comparable to PET scans and lumbar punctures and an estimated price near £100 versus roughly £1,500 for each standard test.
• Results can be returned in around two weeks in specialised labs, and the test is intended for patients already under assessment for cognitive symptoms rather than general population screening.
• A separate UC San Diego study in JAMA Network Open tested 5,712 Hispanic/Latino adults and found higher NfL and GFAP associated with broader self‑reported cognitive decline and higher NfL and p‑tau181 linked to memory decline, with no link seen for Aβ42/40.
• Experts stress blood biomarkers should complement clinical evaluations, noting the only FDA‑cleared plasma assay (Lumipulse pTau217/Aβ42) is costly and mostly confined to specialised centres, while a brief Fastball EEG showed promise in a small study as an adjunct.