Alzheimer Diagnosis Simple test for faster diagnosis

January 19, 2026

Discover how Alzheimer could be diagnosed with a simple finger-prick test.

Alzheimer’s disease could one day be diagnosed using a simple at-home finger-prick blood test, researchers have suggested.

Scientists found the test was able to correctly identify 86 per cent of Alzheimer’s cases when compared with existing diagnostic methods.

The test detects biomarkers linked to the disease and could ultimately play a key role in enabling faster diagnosis and earlier treatment.

Researchers analysed samples from 337 participants, who provided drops of dried blood on a card that were tested for high levels of p-tau181, a protein associated with Alzheimer’s.

Findings published in Nature Medicine showed the test could also distinguish between people with mild cognitive impairment and those without cognitive decline.

However, the research team said the diagnostic tool remains “years” away from clinical use and is currently less accurate than standard testing, stressing that further research is needed to refine the method. The study was conducted by scientists from the University of Exeter and the University of Gothenberg.

At present, Alzheimer’s is typically diagnosed by measuring changes in spinal fluid, a procedure that can be uncomfortable and time-consuming.

Professor Nicholas Ashton, the study’s lead author, said: “This breakthrough could fundamentally change how we conduct Alzheimer’s research by showing that the same biomarkers used to detect Alzheimer’s pathology can be measured from a simple finger-prick sample collected at home or in remote community settings.

“Although we are still years from clinical application, this opens the door to research that was previously out of reach — including studies involving more diverse populations, large-scale screening, and communities that have historically been under-represented in Alzheimer’s research.”

“Ultimately, we are moving towards treating people for Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms appear. If progress continues, we will need new ways to identify eligible individuals who are not routinely seen in clinical settings. This work represents one potential step in that direction, although further validation is needed.”

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