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Early dementia blood test trial begins

Katy Prickett
BBC News, Cambridgeshire
Race Against Dementia Sir Jackie Stewart and Dr Maura Malpetti, both smiling. Sir Jackie is on the left and has ear-length white hair, swept back from his forehead, and is wearing a white shirt. On the right, Dr Malpetti has dark long hair over her shoulders. She is wearing a blue jacket over a white top.Race Against Dementia
Sir Jackie Stewart's Race Against Dementia charity awarded Dr Maura Malpetti a fellowship in 2021

A simple blood test designed to detect dementia decades before it develops is being rolled out across the UK as part of a "very exciting" new study.

University of Cambridge scientists will use the approach to measure brain changes in people with dementia as an alternative to "more costly brain scans".

It is based on initial research led by Dr Maura Malpetti, who received the Race Against Dementia Fellowship in 2021 from the charity founded by Sir Jackie Stewart, in partnership with Alzheimer's Research UK.

The three-times Formula 1 World Championship winner described Dr Malpetti's work as "groundbreaking".

University of Cambridge A side-on view of Dr Maura Malpetti, who has dark long hair and is wearing white lab coat over a white jumper. She is sitting at desk and twisting to look towards a computer screen which has nine brain scans lined up, all blue and purple coloured, some with orange areas. University of Cambridge
The UK roll out focuses on brain inflammation, which is high in frontotemporal dementia

"By applying the principles of precision, teamwork, and inventiveness from Formula 1 into the world of medical research, we can more efficiently drive progress towards a cure for dementia," added Sir Jackie.

He set up Race Against Dementia following his wife Helen's diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia.

The research will focus on this form of dementia - which is also the type actor Bruce Willis was diagnosed with in 2023 - but aims to help accelerate the development of treatments for other types of dementia.

Reuters A close-up of actor Bruce Willis attending the European premiere of "Glass" in London, Britain January 9, 2019. He has a bald head and is smiling broadly. Just glimpsed is a black jacket and white shirt. Reuters
When Bruce Willis' family shared his diagnosis, they pointed out there were no treatments for the disease, which they hoped would change

Dr Malpetti, a senior research associate at the university's Department of Clinical Neurosciences, found molecular changes associated with brain inflammation and dementia can also be detected in the blood, decades before physical dementia symptoms.

They were usually only picked up by "more costly brain scans", the university said.

Brain scans also take longer to carry out and require specialist equipment not available everywhere in the country.

Dr Malpetti described the new trial as "very exciting programme", saying: "We're focusing on changes to the brain which can manifest 10 to 20 years before symptoms, with the hope that in the future we can treat them early enough to stop the disease before symptoms occur."

University of Cambridge Dr Maura Malpetti with two other women, who are part of the the Open Network for Frontotemporal dementia Inflammation Research (ON-FIRE) team. She is on the right with long dark hair over a dark jacket and pink jumper. To her right are a woman with long blonde hair over a pale blue jumper and to her right is a woman with curling mid-brown hair and a grey top. Behind them are packed shelves in a laboratory setting. University of Cambridge
The Open Network for Frontotemporal dementia Inflammation Research (ON-FIRE) team research began in Cambridge

Dementia mostly affects people over 65, but frontotemporal dementia tends to start at a younger age, though it can affect older people too.

There are about 20,000 people in the UK living with frontotemporal dementia, but Dr Malpetti said because it is less common, people with the condition are often misdiagnosed.

Research has already shown that higher brain inflammation is associated with faster clinical decline in people with frontotemporal dementia, similar to Alzheimer's disease, and Dr Malpetti said this points to the potential of immunotherapy in treating dementia.

Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at Alzheimer's Society, said: "This is another exciting step in revolutionising how we could diagnose the diseases that cause dementia in an early and accurate way.

"A simple blood test could offer a faster, easier method of diagnosis, helping to give people more time to plan and prepare for the future."

The study plans to recruit people from as many different areas and communities of the UK as possible.

It will be based more than 20 research and healthcare centres across to help identify who could benefit most from disease-modifying treatments.

Other dementia blood test trial currently running in the UK include two which are part of the Blood Biomarker Challenge.

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