Alzheimer’s Blood Test Could Transform Diagnosis for Women

More than 1,000 people across the UK are set to take part in a new trial of a blood test for Alzheimer’s disease — a development that could significantly improve early and accurate diagnosis, particularly for women who are disproportionately affected by the condition.

Why Alzheimer’s Matters More for Women

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, and women bear the brunt of its impact. Globally, women are almost twice as likely as men to develop Alzheimer’s, with around two-thirds of UK patients being female. Longer life expectancy partly explains this imbalance, but hormonal changes, immune differences, and sociocultural factors are also believed to play a role.

In addition, women are more likely to experience misdiagnosis or delays in receiving support. Symptoms such as memory loss and cognitive changes are sometimes dismissed as stress or menopause-related, further compounding diagnostic challenges.

The Promise of a Blood Test

The new blood test, costing around £100, detects a biomarker known as p-tau217, which reflects the build-up of amyloid and tau proteins in the brain. These rogue proteins accumulate for up to 20 years before symptoms appear and are strongly linked with Alzheimer’s progression.

Currently, confirmation of Alzheimer’s relies on costly and invasive PET scans or lumbar punctures — procedures that only 2% of patients ever receive. Instead, most women are diagnosed through paper-based cognitive tests, which can miss early disease stages.

Scientists at University College London (UCL) leading the study believe the blood test could increase diagnostic accuracy from 70% to more than 90%, helping women access timely treatment and support.

Women’s Voices in the Trial

The ADAPT trial, now underway at a memory clinic in Essex with 19 more NHS sites to follow, is the largest of its kind in the UK. Importantly, patients with lived experience of dementia — many of them women — helped design the study.

Professor Fiona Carragher, chief policy and research officer at the Alzheimer’s Society, said:

“Our research shows that too many women face long, stressful journeys to diagnosis. This blood test could help change that, giving women clarity earlier and opening doors to support, care and future treatments.”

Why Speed Matters

Half of the trial participants will receive results within three months, the other half after 12 months, so researchers can measure the impact of faster diagnosis on treatment pathways and quality of life.

This is particularly important for women, who not only face higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s but also carry the majority of the care burden when family members are affected. A faster, more reliable diagnostic pathway could ease pressure both on patients and carers.

A Turning Point for Women’s Health?

New drugs targeting early Alzheimer’s are entering late-stage trials worldwide. A routine blood test could ensure that women — who make up the majority of patients — are diagnosed early enough to benefit.

As one participant’s family member, Steven Pidwill, put it:

“An accurate, rapid blood test for Alzheimer’s would change how society sees the disease. It would stop being a hidden curse and start being something we can face, plan for and treat.”

For women, who too often face stigma, late diagnoses, and insufficient support, this test could be more than a medical breakthrough — it could be a step towards equity in brain health.