FluiDx-AD, a European project to revolutionise Alzheimer's diagnosis with non-invasive testing

The CIEN - Centre for Research in Neurological Diseases is part of the FluiDx-AD consortium, an innovative project funded by the Horizon Europe programme of the European Union, which seeks to improve early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease through minimally invasive and accessible tests and which is directly linked to CIEN's research and investment strategy in recent years.

Coordinated by the Oslo University Hospital, FluiDx-AD involves ten European institutions in a research consortium, including hospitals, research centres and technology companies. It aims to develop a set of diagnostic tools based on saliva and blood samples, offering a simpler and more affordable alternative to current invasive and expensive methods, such as lumbar punctures or advanced neuroimaging.

Towards faster and more accurate diagnosis

Currently, it can take more than a year to diagnose Alzheimer's disease, limiting early access to treatments that could modify the course of the disease. FluiDx-AD will develop three new tests to improve early detection:

• SalivaDx-AD: a saliva test designed to detect Alzheimer's risk in its early stages, facilitating mass screening.
• PlasmaDx-AD: a highly accurate blood test to confirm the diagnosis in people with clinical, psychological or behavioural signs of Alzheimer's disease.
• BloodCellDx-AD: a blood test to assess the risk of adverse effects associated with new anti-amyloid drugs that, after decades without new drug developments, are beginning to be used in the US and Europe.

“Alzheimer's is a public health challenge with a growing incidence. The possibility of having faster and more accessible diagnostic tools will transform the way we approach the disease, allowing earlier and more personalised diagnoses, a goal we have been working on for years, and recently in personalised medicine projects,” says Pascual Sánchez Juan, CIEN's scientific director.

Impact on research and emerging treatments

In addition to improving detection, FluiDx-AD will also contribute to the optimisation of clinical trials for disease-modifying therapies. The new tests will help to better select patients and reduce the risks of adverse effects, such as those related to amyloid accumulation in the brain.

“The approval of new treatments has created an urgent need for biomarkers to identify which patients are best suited to a pharmacological approach that may have adverse side effects. This project is a key step towards making precision medicine a reality in the field of Alzheimer's disease,” says Sánchez Juan.

The FluiDx-AD consortium includes leading institutions in the study of Alzheimer's disease, such as the Oslo University Hospital, the University of Helsinki, the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Rome and CIEN in Madrid, which will contribute its biobank and clinical samples to the research, and Alzheimer Europe, which will be responsible for communication issues, relations with public administrations and ethical considerations.

With the backing of the European Commission, this project represents a crucial advance in the fight against Alzheimer's, improving not only the diagnosis but also the quality of life of patients and their families.