A Faster, Cheaper Way to Diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease
Monash University engineers have developed a groundbreaking handheld device that could help GPs detect Alzheimer’s Disease in minutes with a simple finger-prick blood test.
This compact device, about the size of a credit card, identifies protein biomarkers linked to early-stage Alzheimer’s, allowing for faster and more affordable diagnoses compared to traditional lab tests.
Currently, around 420,000 Australians live with dementia, and this number is expected to double by 2054. Detecting the disease early could significantly improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and provide timely intervention.
According to Associate Professor Sudha Mokkapati, this innovative device has proven to detect very low levels of disease markers in blood, showing promising results. However, further funding is needed for clinical validation to bring this technology closer to widespread use.
Associate Professor Matthew Pase from Monash’s School of Psychological Sciences emphasized that early detection is crucial. Most neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s, are diagnosed at advanced stages when treatments are less effective.
This device could enable early screening, potentially slowing the progression of the disease and offering better care options.
Source racgp.org.