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<\/p>\nThe ability to test for signs of Alzheimer’s disease decades earlier could be a step closer with a new blood test set for clinical trials within months.<\/p>\n
Laboratory test “pTau217” is thought to give results in as little as 18 minutes and can detect changes in the brain decades before someone might develop symptoms.<\/p>\n
It works by detecting a protein called phosphorylated tau 217 which is a biomarker for a build up of amyloid plaque in the brain.<\/p>\n
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Amyloid plaque formations seen in a histological stain. (Wikimedia Commons: Jensflorian (CC-BY-SA-3.0))<\/p>\n
This sticky plaque is thought to play a central role in Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved the pTau217 test which researchers announced at the launch of the Asia-Pacific Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis in Sydney.<\/p>\n
Roche Diagnostics has been authorised to supply the p-Tau181 and p-Tau217 tests.<\/p>\n
The centre is a collaboration between medical research group Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and pharmaceutical company Roche aims to enable earlier and more accurate detection through advanced blood-based biomarker testing.<\/p>\n
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the disease is the most common form of dementia in Australia.<\/p>\n
It affects memory, thinking and behaviour, with symptoms developing enough to interfere with daily tasks, the association says.<\/p>\n
NeuRA said it would “alleviate the burden of delayed and uncertain diagnosis” for Alzheimer’s.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson said the rollout for doctors to refer patients was expected in the next six to nine months.<\/p>\n
‘Transformative’ test welcomed![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/dbb8089cb17e91d7f02e7c61b9c41731.jpeg\")
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NeuRA cognitive neurologist and researcher Emma Devenney said early trials of the test were positive. (ABC News: Floss Adams)<\/p>\n
NeuRA cognitive neurologist and researcher Emma Devenney said the possibility of a single blood test to diagnose Alzheimer’s would be very helpful, with the clinical trials underway in Australia proving promising.<\/p>\n
“The clinical research studies so far show the p-Tau 217 blood test is so far the most accurate and reliable diagnostic marker for Alzheimer’s disease,” Dr Devenney said.<\/p>\n
“It’s on par to other more invasive testing as well as CT pet scans. So we really are looking at an opportunity to do a single blood test to make that Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, with over 90 per cent accuracy.<\/p>\n
“I think it’s transformative, and it’s a step towards earlier diagnosis and it’s the earlier diagnosis that’s going to have the biggest impact on treating and eventually curing and preventing Alzheimer’s disease.”![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/03769b194bb482ea31ec48fc41666664.jpeg\")
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Alzheimer’s advocate Louise Bryant spoke about the difficulties her partner had getting a diagnosis. (ABC News: Floss Adams)<\/p>\n
Alzheimer’s care advocate Louise Bryant said the announcement of a potential blood test to detect the disease early was deeply personal.<\/p>\n
She said her partner, affectionately known as Moose, was diagnosed with early onset dementia at just 46 years old.<\/p>\n
“He was first diagnosed with what was believed to be alcoholic-related dementia.” Ms Bryant said.<\/p>\n
“But the following 10 years his behaviour shifted repeatedly and then there were concerns perhaps his dementia might carry a genetic risk.”<\/p>\n
Ms Bryant said it was only in the two months before he died that it was officially confirmed through an invasive lumbar puncture that he had Alzheimer’s.<\/p>\n
“That result would not have changed the outcome, but an earlier diagnosis would have removed some of the stigma and the uncertainty,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Perhaps it would have given us earlier access to some other treatment options.”<\/p>\n
‘A new frontier for Alzheimer’s care’<\/p>\n
NeuRA chief executive Professor Matthew Kiernan said the blood test had been approved for clinical trials.<\/p>\n
“Having regulatory approval of these blood tests is a new frontier for Alzheimer’s care,” Professor Kiernan said.<\/p>\n
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Professor Kiernan has welcomed the development. (ABC News: Floss Adams)<\/p>\n
The body said the new centre addressed a critical gap for tackling the disease in Australia and Asia-Pacific.<\/p>\n
“The Centre of Excellence will enable earlier and more accurate Alzheimer’s detection through advanced blood-based and spinal fluid biomarker testing, positioning NSW as a national hub for dementia diagnostics, clinical trials and research innovation,” a NeuRA spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
Roche Diagnostics Australia general manager Anand Vairavan said Alzheimer’s diagnosis was “currently extremely slow and complex” and undertaken with “expensive imaging and invasive lumbar punctures”.<\/p>\n
“It’s about the gift of time,” Mr Vairavan said.<\/p>\n
Theresa Flavin, 60, has dementia and was thankful a diagnosis might be easier for others in the future because the diagnosis process was “exhausting and demoralising” for her.<\/p>\n
“I was having trouble mostly at work, but also at home,” Ms Flavin, who was diagnosed in her mid-40s, said.<\/p>\n
“Everything was falling apart. Birthdays were being forgotten, all the normal routine things. I had a young child who was seven but also my older children who were getting resentful because it looked like I just didn’t care.”<\/p>\n
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