New study: Home blood tests – new possibilities for Alzheimer’s research
Scientists in Sweden, the US and several other European countries have carried out the first large-scale validation of an easily accessible test method that is independent of geographical proximity to specialized healthcare infrastructure.
January 7, 2026
The new study, published in Nature Medicine, was led by Nicholas Ashton, a researcher at the University of Gothenburg and senior director at the Banner Sun Health Research Institute in Arizona, together with professors Kaj Blennow and Henrik Zetterberg at the University of Gothenburg.
Self-sampling at home
Blood tests that measure biomarkers for the disease, such as p-tau217, have become increasingly accurate and available, and have recently received regulatory approval. However, the blood sampling that is done clinically today requires trained personnel and specific handling and temperature-controlled storage of the samples, which creates limitations. The method of self-sampling at home, where the dry sample can be sent by mail, is therefore described as a breakthrough.
“Although we are still years away from clinical use, we are opening doors to research that was previously impossible – to study different populations, conduct large-scale screening studies and include groups that have historically been underrepresented in Alzheimer’s research,” says Nicholas Ashton.
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Lund University’s famous Alzheimer’s researcher, Oskar Hansson, took on a new role in the pharmaceutical industry last year and is today tackling the same challenge from a different angle.
Seven medical centers in Europe and 337 participants
The research project involves seven medical centers in Europe and 337 participants where the new method was applied. The level of p-tau217 in these samples was found to be in good agreement with the level in regular blood samples, and the matching rate compared to spinal cord samples was 86 percent. Two other biomarkers for Alzheimer’s, GFAP and NfL, also showed strong agreement.
The researchers believe that the method could eventually be used to find people at risk of dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease, and offer more in-depth sampling and analysis. The method is also considered to have potential for diseases other than Alzheimer’s disease, such as Parkinson’s disease, MS and ALS.
Published: January 7, 2026
