Hong Kong researchers develop Alzheimer’s disease blood test, paving way for mass screening and early detection
- Hong Kong University of Science and Technology experts say they have come up with simple, non-invasive and accurate diagnostic solution for disease
- Team, led by world-renowned neuroscientist Professor Nancy Ip, says early detection will allow closer monitoring to slow patient’s rate of deterioration
Researchers at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have developed a blood test that can detect Alzheimer’s disease in as little as two days with more than 96 per cent accuracy, allowing early detection and screening of dementia for the first time.
Led by world-renowned neuroscientist Professor Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, vice-president for research and development at the university, the team developed an ultra-sensitive detection method with which it identifies 19 out of the 429 plasma proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
“With the advancement of ultra-sensitive blood-based protein detection technology, we have developed a simple, non-invasive and accurate diagnostic solution for AD, which will greatly facilitate population-scale screening and staging of the disease,” Ip said on Monday.
Professor Amy Fu Kit-yu, a core member of Ip’s team, explained: “After identifying the relevant plasma proteins, we can then find the ‘AD signature’ in the blood.
“With this, we can distinguish AD patients from healthy people with more than 96 per cent accuracy. This system can also help us differentiate among the early, intermediate and late stages of the disease.”