My Alzheimer's Journey
Part 72 - LifeArc's Finger-Prick Blood Test
I planned to write this post yesterday. Unfortunately, I had muscle aches and pains all day Wednesday. These aches began at about 2:00 Wednesday morning. I continue to have the aches today; however, they are much more manageable. Muscle aches and pains are a known side effect of Lecanemab.
LifeArc is a not-for-profit life science organization. They are based in London with research facilities in Hertfordshire, England and Edinburgh, Scotland. LifeArc funds research projects in the areas of rare diseases and global health. They also collaborate with other organizations on some projects. LifeArc’s Board of Directors and management team consists of blue ribbon scientists, physicians, attorneys and business executives. Bottom line, LifeArc is a highly credible and successful research organization.
LifeArc is leading an international research project to test whether a finger prick-style blood test could be used to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. This project is in conjunction with another clinical trial called Bio-Hermes-002.
The Bio-Hermes-002 study is to determine if blood and digital biomarkers can predict the likelihood of Alzheimer’s disease developing. More specifically, the study is to determine if biomarkers reflect the presence of brain amyloid. The ultimate goal is to use blood biomarkers as prescreening tools for Alzheimer’s disease, avoiding more costly and time-consuming tests.
Assuming that the Bio-Hermes-002 study is successful, the next step is to have a simple method to collect a blood sample.
In a January 19, 2025 article, Dr Giovanna Lalli, Director of Strategy and Operations at LifeArc, said “Over the last five years, there has been substantial progress in identifying blood-based biomarkers to identify people at high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease before their symptoms present. Developing cheaper, scalable and more accessible tests is vital in the battle against this devastating condition. We are committed to improving patient lives through the development of new tests and treatments, and we are excited about the prospect of a finger-prick blood test for Alzheimer’s disease because it will allow more patients to access new drugs, currently being developed, to slow disease progression in its early stages.”
The finger-prick test could be carried out by individuals at home, and the sample sent to a lab for analysis. Refrigeration is not required for the sample.
I find the possibility of a simple finger-prick test to determine if the correct biomarkers are present to predict the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease an extremely exciting step toward earlier diagnosis.
FOLLOW-UP
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