London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Hong Kong researchers develop test that detects Alzheimer’s in 2 days

Hong Kong researchers develop test that detects Alzheimer’s in 2 days

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology experts say they have come up with a simple, non-invasive and accurate diagnostic solution for Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have developed a blood test that can detect Alzheimer’s disease in as little as two days with more than 96 per cent accuracy, allowing early detection and screening of dementia for the first time.

Led by world-renowned neuroscientist Professor Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, vice-president for research and development at the university, the team developed an ultra-sensitive detection method with which it identifies 19 out of the 429 plasma proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

“With the advancement of ultra-sensitive blood-based protein detection technology, we have developed a simple, non-invasive and accurate diagnostic solution for AD, which will greatly facilitate population-scale screening and staging of the disease,” Ip said on Monday.

Brain imaging is commonly used to identify the disease.


Professor Amy Fu Kit-yu, a core member of Ip’s team, explained: “After identifying the relevant plasma proteins, we can then find the ‘AD signature’ in the blood.

“With this, we can distinguish AD patients from healthy people with more than 96 per cent accuracy. This system can also help us differentiate among the early, intermediate and late stages of the disease.”

While the test was not a cure for the disease, Fu said, early detection would allow early management and closer monitoring to slow the rate of deterioration. “We hope this may also pave the way for novel therapeutic treatments for the disease.”

Currently, doctors mainly rely on cognitive tests to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease in a patient. Besides clinical assessment, brain imaging and lumbar puncture are the two commonly used procedures to detect changes in the brain caused by the disease.

Fu said the cost of the blood test was not known at this stage but it could be as low as several hundred dollars, while current assessments could come with a price tag of more than HK$10,000 (US$1,282).

“Compared to a blood test, those methods are invasive and rather expensive,” Fu said. “We just need one drop of your blood and the results can be expected in two days.”

She added: “Usually patients only go to see doctors and are diagnosed when they have memory problems. But AD affects the brain at least 10 years before symptoms appear.”

The work was conducted in collaboration with researchers at University College London and local clinicians at Prince of Wales and Queen Elizabeth hospitals, among others.

As the most comprehensive study of blood proteins in AD patients to date, the work has been published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, and also featured on various scholarly platforms.

According to the Department of Health, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. It is commonly regarded as an age-related disease. In Hong Kong, 5 to 8 per cent of those aged 65 or above reportedly could suffer from the disease, and up to 30 per cent of those aged 80 or over.

With an ageing population, Hong Kong could have an estimated 280,000 Alzheimer’s patients by 2036.

Dementia is a brain disease that causes deterioration not only in patients’ memory, judgment and the ability to perform daily activities, but also their emotions and behaviour. Early signs, such as recent memory loss, difficulty in completing familiar tasks, misplacing things, are easily overlooked due to the gradual onset.

The disease affects more than 50 million people worldwide.

Among the well-known figures to have suffered from Alzheimer’s disease were the late “father of fibre optics” Professor Charles Kao Kuen, late US president Ronald Reagan, and late British prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×