The study evaluates the use of C2N’s PrecivityAD2 test to accelerate clinical decision-making for patients with cognitive impairment.
Researchers in the United Kingdom are integrating the PrecivityAD2 blood test from C2N Diagnostics into the Alzheimer’s disease diagnostic care pathway. The initiative aims to accelerate diagnosis and clinical decision-making within primary care settings or for patients awaiting evaluation by dementia specialists.
The collaboration is part of a partnership with the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative. As part of the Healthcare System Preparedness program, Imperial College London has launched the Blood Biomarkers for Early and Accurate Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease in Primary Care (BEAD-PC) study. This study began recruiting patients in May and is currently the only center in the United Kingdom participating in this specific program.
Clinical Application in Primary Care
The PrecivityAD2 test is designed to detect amyloid plaques in the brain. It is intended for patients 50 years and older who exhibit signs or symptoms of mild cognitive impairment or dementia.
“The recent emergence of blood-based biomarkers having comparable sensitivity and specificity to highly specialized imaging and cerebrospinal fluid tests has been a major breakthrough in the field of Alzheimer’s disease,” says Lefkos Middleton, professor of neurology at Imperial, in a release. “These blood biomarkers hold the promise of transforming the diagnostic and care pathways across the globe, for the benefit of patients and their families.”
In the BEAD-PC study, general practitioners in North West London use the blood test alongside standard cognitive assessments. If results suggest early-stage cognitive impairment, patients are referred to the Imperial Memory Unit at Charing Cross Hospital for specialist evaluation.
The study aims to place diagnostic tools directly within primary care research sites rather than hospital or specialist settings. This approach is intended to provide quicker diagnosis during the early stages of the disease.
Addressing Challenges in Dementia Care
The study is designed to generate evidence that could inform the delivery of Alzheimer’s diagnostics at scale across the National Health Service and other healthcare systems. By testing the integration of blood-based biomarker testing into routine appointments, the researchers seek to address the gap between the onset of disease and the point of formal diagnosis.
“For too long general practitioners have operated in a ‘grey area’ where they respond to patient concerns without precise tools to define the nature of the disease process,” says David Wingfield, professor of practice at Imperial, in a release. “For Alzheimer’s disease we now have the tools in the form of blood biomarkers, which are easier for patients and help define the nature of the condition and point towards treatments that may help.”
ID 92915894 | Office © Arne9001 | Dreamstime.com
