Blood Markers in Dementia Study

Dr Elizabeta Mukaetova-Ladinska

Dr Elizabeta Mukaetova-Ladinska is the lead investigator on an Alzheimer's Society-funded study, entitled 'Blood Markers in Dementia Study'.

In this video, Elizabeta describes her research, which was set up to define novel blood markers (detectable and measurable substances in the blood) that would be sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of dementia and, in particular, of Alzheimer's disease.

Recruiting into studies like this one can be notoriously difficult. 'We relied on the support of our clinical colleagues and a dementia register for the recruitment of participants. We were interested in people who already have a diagnosis of dementia such as Alzheimer's disease and also their relatives who not have any memory problems to take part in the study,' explains Dr Mukaetova-Ladinska.

Their study was based around clinical assessment for memory and behavioural changes. All participants were also asked to give the study researchers a small blood sample.

Dr Mukaetova-Ladinska continues: 'We believe that having a blood biomarker for dementia will enable us to detect different subtypes of dementia very early on and will facilitate the diagnosis of the condition'.

A simple blood biomarker for dementia would help prompt diagnosis and allow patients to be started on the currently available anti-dementia drugs as quickly as possible.

The potential outcome would be to develop an inexpensive yet accurate test that could differentiate between Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, such as dementia with Lewy bodies and vascular dementia.

The team has been awarded further funding from the Alzheimer's Society, to develop their pilot data towards a clinical diagnostic tool that would help people with dementia to get the correct support for, information about, and treatment of their condition.

Dr Elizabeta Mukaetova-Ladinska is a Senior Lecturer in Old Age Psychiatry at the Institute for Ageing and Health, part of the University of Newcastle's Campus for Ageing and Vitality.