Groundbreaking dementia blood test diagnosis trial seeking South Yorkshire participants
“We are actively recruiting participants in South Yorkshire and the Humber from a broad range of people”
A groundbreaking trial exploring the potential of blood tests to diagnose dementia is now underway in South Yorkshire, as more volunteers are sought.
The initiative, led by the READ-OUT research team at Dementias Platform UK (DPUK), seeks to address gaps in diagnosis and enhance early detection of the diseases that can cause dementia.
It is hoped this will ultimately lead to improved outcomes for people living with the condition.
NHS Trusts in South Yorkshire, including Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust, have signed up to the trial.
The first participants from South Yorkshire have been signed up to the trial, as more volunteers from region are actively being sought.
Professor Vanessa Raymont, Director of Dementias Platform UK and Associate Professor, University of Oxford, and Co-Lead of the READ-OUT study, said: “We’re in an incredibly exciting time for dementia research right now, with new drugs that can slow early Alzheimer’s disease.
“Although these are not yet approved for use in the NHS, we urgently need to revolutionise the way we diagnose people in this country - it will be nothing short of disastrous if people are unable to get a diagnosis early enough to benefit from the new drugs, once they do become available. In addition, many people now want and need the more accurate diagnosis blood biomarkers could provide.
“Blood biomarker tests could be the answer to this problem and the good news is that the technology already exists. What we’re missing is the proof that they really do work in a real-world setting.
“Our team will be looking at a range of blood tests and we are actively recruiting participants in South Yorkshire and the Humber from a broad range of people including those from minority ethnic groups, the very elderly and people with other medical conditions. This will show us how the blood tests perform in different UK populations.”
The Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust is also amongst the 37 DPUK sites across the UK, which have signed up to the trial.
These sites, located in NHS memory clinics and community buses, aim to recruit participants from a diverse range of communities, ensuring the research is inclusive and reflects the wider population.
The READ-OUT (REAl World Dementia OUTcomes) study is part of the Blood Biomarker Challenge – a multi-million-pound initiative led by Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK, supported by funds raised by Postcode Lottery players, National Institute for Health and Care Research and Gates Ventures.
It aims to explore whether a panel of blood tests can complement existing diagnostic pathways in NHS memory clinics, helping clinicians provide faster and more accurate diagnoses for people living with dementia.
The team will assess multiple new and existing blood tests, looking at a range of dementia types including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies.
The researchers will also look at whether the blood tests can help detect these diseases at various stages and if the results need to be interpreted differently in people from different ethnic backgrounds or with other health conditions such as kidney disease.
Laura Chow, head of charities at Postcode Lottery, said: “We are thrilled to see the groundbreaking blood test trial for dementia diagnosis now underway in South Yorkshire and the Humber.
“This marks a pivotal moment in the fight against dementia and highlights the immense value of funding raised by Postcode Lottery players.
“Early diagnosis is crucial in improving outcomes for individuals living with dementia, and I am delighted that our players are supporting a project that has the potential to transform how the condition is detected and managed.
“We look forward to seeing the positive impact this innovative work could have across the UK.”
For anyone concerned about dementia symptoms, please contact your GP or visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia
- RELATED: Young mum who thought she had kid's cold died hours later as coroner slams NHS
- RELATED: The big changes to school dinners coming to Sheffield
- RELATED: Teenager's £5k wheelchair appeal after NHS funding runs out
- RELATED: Barnsley care home residents take nostalgic journey through wartime Britain