Recently, there have been global breakthroughs in new blood-tests that allow us to detect dementia pathology in the blood. Exciting international data suggests that these blood markers may be able to revolutionise the diagnosis of dementia, and will be more widely available and less expensive than current methods.

While there is much work to be done, it is critical for researchers to determine how doctors may benefit from the availability of such tests in their practice, and whether it influences a doctor’s diagnostic confidence and management. The Australian Dementia Network will conduct a world-first pilot trial aiming to evaluate the impact of these novel blood-tests on a doctor’s clinical diagnosis, confidence and management for persons attending a Memory Clinic with diagnostic uncertainty or mild cognitive impairment.

Professors Christopher Rowe, Sharon Naismith, and James Vickers will lead this study across three centres, Austin Health CDAMS in Victoria, University of Sydney’s Healthy Brain Ageing Clinic and the University of Tasmania’s ISLAND Clinic, working in collaboration with other national experts in the field including Professor Ralph Martins, Professor Anna King and Dr Jane Alty. The study will be coordinated by Dr Johannes Michaelian from the University of Sydney.

More information on the aims and outcomes of this trial are available on the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12622000515796), which can be accessed here.