Scientists from seven European centers have developed a finger-prick blood test capable of detecting early signs of Alzheimer's disease. Instead of a venous draw, only a drop of blood applied to a special card is needed.
The project involved 337 people, including patients with Down syndrome, who are at especially high risk of dementia. The study showed high accuracy in identifying proteins linked to brain damage, especially in the middle and late stages of the disease. The new method makes testing more accessible: it can be carried out remotely, without highly qualified specialists or special equipment. This is especially valuable for initial screening, helping to identify those who need more detailed examination.
Although further refinement of the procedure and adjustment of threshold values are still needed, the method has enormous potential: if the procedure can be standardized and accuracy improved, a finger-prick test could become a global tool for early diagnosis.
