Some 200 volunteers in Surrey are being sought for “groundbreaking” trials to explore whether blood tests can aid the early diagnosis of dementia.
It is open to people aged 45 and over who have been referred to Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, or who live in the county and experience memory problems.
Called Read-Out, the study has a high accuracy rate and can potentially identify the likes of Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia and mild cognitive impairment.
Professor Ramin Nilforooshan, consultant psychiatrist and director of research and development, said: “Early diagnosis is key to improving the lives of people with dementia.”
He added: “It gives people time to plan their lives, get their finances in order or maybe take a holiday they never had.
“It takes away the uncertainty.”
Participants in the study will be required to provide a single 20ml blood sample, along with information on their medical history.
The trust’s research and development team is also involved in a new wave of clinical trials for treatments designed to slow or even modify the onset of dementia.