Finger-prick blood test breaks new ground in Alzheimer's research

Banner Health-led and philanthropy-fueled study enables global research participation

Under the leadership of Nicholas Ashton, Ph.D., senior director of the Fluid Biomarker Program at Banner Sun Health Research Institute, an international collaborative effort has achieved remarkable results that exemplify the transformative power of sustained philanthropic investment in Alzheimer's research.  

The DROP-AD project, conducted across seven European medical centers, successfully tested 337 participants and proved that finger-prick blood collection can accurately measure key markers of Alzheimer's pathology and brain damage. This breakthrough enables worldwide research participation by eliminating the logistical constraints that have historically limited biomarker studies to well-resourced medical facilities.

The research, published Monday in Nature Medicine, represents the first large-scale validation of this accessible testing approach that removes geographic barriers and opens brain disease research to global populations without requiring specialized health care infrastructure.

Alzheimer's disease is usually confirmed through brain scans or spinal fluid tests, which are invasive and expensive. Blood tests that measure biomarkers, such as p-tau217, are emerging as accurate and accessible tools for detecting Alzheimer's disease. Although drawing blood through venipuncture (inserting a needle into a vein) is much simpler than procedures such as spinal taps or brain scans, practical hurdles remain outside of clinics, including how samples are handled and stored and whether people have access to trained staff to collect them.

The study found that levels of p-tau217 in finger-prick samples closely matched results from standard blood tests and were able to identify Alzheimer's disease-related changes in spinal fluid with an accuracy of 86%. Two other markers, GFAP and NfL, were also successfully measured and showed strong agreement with traditional tests.

The findings suggest that this simple technique could make large-scale studies and remote testing possible, including for people with Down syndrome, who face a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease, and for other underserved populations.

"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," said Dr. Ashton. "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,” Dr. Ashton added. “This work represents one such approach in that direction and further validation remains.”

Led by Dr. Ashton, this international collaboration included Dr. Kaj Blennow and Dr. Henrik Zetterberg, professors at the University of Gothenburg, and the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom.

The University of Exeter Medical School played a pivotal role, recruiting participants from the PROTECT-UK study and serving as the only site to test self-collection capabilities. Participants successfully collected their own finger-prick samples without the guidance of study personnel after watching trained staff and receiving written instructions.

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.”

“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,” said co-author Clive Ballard, professor of Age-Related Diseases at the University of Exeter Medical School.  

The method also shows promise for research applications beyond Alzheimer's, including studies of Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS, and brain injuries by the detection and accurate measurement of neurofilament light, a key biomarker of neurodegeneration.

Banner’s Fluid Biomarker Program focuses on developing and validating biological markers in bodily fluids to support early detection of neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and autoimmune disorders. Through two specialized laboratories at Banner Sun Health Research Institute in Sun City, the program spans the full spectrum from biomarker discovery to clinical implementation, serving academic and industry partners worldwide.

Since the Banner Alzheimer's Institute's inception 20 years ago, generous support from donors and partners has propelled Banner Health to the forefront of neuroscience innovation, enabling groundbreaking discoveries that are reshaping how the world approaches brain disease research. The Institute’s latest achievement represents the kind of paradigm-shifting advancement that becomes possible when visionary philanthropy meets scientific excellence.  

“The journey from Banner Alzheimer's Institute's founding vision to today's global research leadership stands as a testament to what dedicated donors and collaborative partnerships can accomplish, turning what once seemed impossible into accessible reality for communities worldwide,” said Dr. Eric Reiman, CEO for the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute.  

About Banner Sun Health Research Institute

Since 1986, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, part of nonprofit Banner Health, has been a leader nationally and internationally in the effort to find answers to disorders of aging including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The institute’s Cleo Roberts Center for Clinical Research takes laboratory discoveries to clinical trials that foster hope for new treatments. Banner Health is Arizona’s leading health care provider and largest private employer. For more information, visit bannershri.com or visit us on Facebook.