GPs could soon be able to screen their patients for Alzheimer’s using a simple hand-held device developed by engineers at Monash.
Monash engineers have developed the first of its kind fingerstick blood test with ‘needle-in-a-haystack’ precision to detect the hallmark (protein) biomarkers in early AD before symptoms worsen.
It is the size of a credit card and uses the world’s first patented sensor technology that can detect ultra-low levels of disease markers in the blood within minutes.
With the number of Australians diagnosed with dementia set to double by 2054, the rapid blood test could become an essential tool to streamline diagnoses by giving GPs unprecedented access to non-invasive diagnostics.
Associate Professor Sudha Mokapati from Monash Materials Science and Engineering developed the proof-of-concept electronic sensor for point-of-care testing, eliminating the need for laboratory-based pathology testing and making the diagnosis process faster and more cost-effective.
“It is easy to use, inexpensive and portable, so it can be made widely accessible to primary care physicians to screen patients directly at the point of care. Detecting very early disease in large populations could dramatically change the trajectory of this burdensome disease for many patients and save millions in associated healthcare costs,” said Associate Professor Mokapati.
We have completed testing showing that the technology is highly advanced in design and capable of detecting ultra-low levels of several disease biomarkers in the blood. The next stage is to carry out the clinical validation required to bring this one step closer to reality, and we rely on further funding to make this happen.”
Sudha Mokapati, Associate Professor, Monash Materials Science and Engineering
Lead Associate Professor Matthew Pase, at Monash’s School of Psychological Sciences, said the device could facilitate earlier, more efficient diagnosis, allowing timely intervention and management of AD.
“Most patients with neurodegenerative diseases are usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. Unfortunately, treatments that target late-onset diseases offer limited therapeutic benefit,” said Professor Pase.
“Earlier screening could change the outlook for many patients with cognitive impairment, increasing the likelihood of halting or slowing symptom development and rapid disease progression.”