A recent international study has shown that biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease can be detected accurately using finger-prick blood samples collected at home and mailed to laboratories without the need for refrigeration or prior processing. The research, led by Banner Health in collaboration with the University of Exeter Medical School and supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), was published in Nature Medicine.
The DROP-AD project involved seven European medical centers, including the University of Gothenburg and University of Exeter. Researchers tested 337 participants and demonstrated that finger-prick blood collection is effective in measuring key markers of Alzheimer's pathology and brain damage. This approach could expand participation in brain disease research globally by removing logistical barriers that have previously limited studies to well-equipped medical facilities.
Traditionally, Alzheimer’s diagnosis relies on invasive or expensive procedures such as brain scans or spinal fluid tests. Blood tests for biomarkers like p-tau217 are emerging as more accessible alternatives. However, outside clinical settings, challenges remain regarding sample handling, storage, and access to trained personnel.
Professor Nicholas Ashton, senior director of Banner's Fluid Biomarker Program and lead investigator of the study, stated: "This breakthrough could fundamentally change how we conduct Alzheimer's research by proving that the same biomarkers doctors use to detect Alzheimer's pathology can be measured from a simple finger prick collected at home or in more remote community settings. While we're still years away from clinical use, we're opening doors to research that was previously impossible – studying diverse populations, conducting large-scale screening studies, and including communities that have been historically underrepresented in Alzheimer's studies.
"Ultimately, we are moving toward a pathway of treating people for Alzheimer's disease before symptoms emerge. If this trajectory continues, we will need innovative ways to identify eligible individuals who are not routinely presenting in clinical settings. This work represents one such approach in that direction and further validation remains."
In the study, researchers used dried blood spots from fingertip samples to detect proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease among 337 participants. The results showed that levels of p-tau217 closely matched those from standard blood tests and identified Alzheimer’s-related changes in spinal fluid with an accuracy rate of 86 percent. Additional markers GFAP and NfL were also measured successfully with strong agreement compared to traditional methods.
The University of Exeter Medical School played a significant role by recruiting participants from the PROTECT-UK study and testing self-collection capabilities. Participants managed to collect their own samples after receiving instructions but without direct supervision.
Although not yet ready for clinical application, this method could enable remote participation in research studies and facilitate broader sampling across various populations—including groups at higher risk such as people with Down syndrome—by overcoming previous geographic limitations.
Anne Corbett Professor in Dementia Research at the University of Exeter said: "What excites me most is that this work makes this type of research far more accessible. We're moving toward a future where anyone, anywhere, can contribute to advancing our understanding of brain diseases. This isn't just a technical advancement – it's a paradigm shift in how we conduct neuroscience research."
Co-author Clive Ballard, Professor of Age-Related Diseases at the University of Exeter Medical School added: "Our ongoing work will determine whether this could also be a valuable way of identifying people in the community who would benefit from more detailed diagnostic tests for Alzheimer's disease."
Beyond Alzheimer’s research, this technique may also support studies into other neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and brain injuries through detection of neurofilament light (NfL).
Researchers caution that further validation is needed before clinical use can begin.
The UK portion was funded by NIHR Exeter Biomedical Research Centre along with NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Brain Health and Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula.
Professor Marian Knight, Scientific Director for NIHR Infrastructure said: "This type of research – with the potential to transform diagnosis and care for people with Alzheimer's disease – showcases the importance of NIHR infrastructure funding and the expertise of its researchers supporting internationally collaborative commercial research. The future potential to enable testing in different settings outside hospital clinics is hugely exciting."
The paper is titled “A minimally invasive dried blood spot biomarker test for the detection of 28 Alzheimer's disease pathology” published in Nature Medicine.
