Dementia is a progressive and debilitating disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia, is critical to providing patients with necessary care and support to manage their symptoms, slow the progression and increase quality of life. Alzheimer’s research UK (ARUK), the largest dementia research conference in the UK, took place in Aberdeen this year. It brought together researchers and healthcare professionals from the field of dementia to discuss the latest developments and research issues.
As a focus of this year’s ARUK conference was diagnosis. GT Diagnostics was an exhibitor at the conference, showcasing some of our products in development to healthcare professionals and researchers. Accurate and early diagnosis is not straightforward, however, and there is still much to learn about the early stages of AD. It is important to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of cognitive, physical, and psychological health before a diagnosis can be supported. Therefore, a multi-disciplinary approach is required when tackling such challenges. GT Diagnostics comprises of a team rooted in science and excellence, which leverages digital technologies and machine learning to develop more accurate and efficient diagnostic tools.
The subject of diversity was discussed during ARUK and as we know from ADI’s World Alzheimer Report 2021, minorities are underrepresented in most dementia research. This can be the result of, for example, diagnostic tests being targeted at English language speakers, since this is the most dominant international language. GT Diagnostics develops tools, such as HiPAL and HiPAL Pro, that are language agnostic and assess memory, visuospatial ability, and reaction time. Performance on such tasks can provide healthcare professionals with more information and help guide their decision.
Dementia risk factors are another important topic that was discussed during ARUK but was also focal point during Dementias 2023 . It is well known that certain behaviours in mid-life can influence the development of dementia, it is still unclear what mechanisms are or how they might work in tandem. Well-being apps like HiPAL can be used in the comfort of someone’s home, making it possible to track activity and performance to build a record of changes in cognitive and functional abilities.
Biomarkers, a hot topic of discussion, also had a prominent place during ARUK. Identification of biomarkers shows promise of detection of Tau protein fragments and/or amyloid plaques from CSF but also blood samples. Although the presence of the biomarkers might not give a definitive diagnosis, they can nevertheless prove to be useful in improving diagnostic pathways and streamlining the patient journey. Moreover, biomarkers are a promising way to monitor treatment.
ARUK also addressed the importance of support and care for family members of people living with Dementia. This ties in with ADI’s World Alzheimer Report 2022 that explored the post-diagnosis support. The development of new interventions and tools to address the behavioural and psychological aspect of AD are possible avenues to approach this topic. Highlighting these and other relevant difficulties related to dementia, ARUK provides an excellent opportunity to get up to date with the most recent research trends.
By Siyan Dimitrov
