Using blood tests to diagnose Alzheimer's disease and track how it progresses
Studies blood markers for Alzheimer's disease in people with memory or thinking problems.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Blood Tests for Alzheimer's Disease: Can Plasma Biomarkers Diagnose and Predict Disease Progression
Key facts
- Where
- Milan, ItalySee the site
Where in Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele - Cognitive Disorders and Dementia Center (CDCD)Milan, ItalyTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- IRCCS San Raffaele
- Trial code
- NCT07717567
- Record updated
- 21 July 2026
- Original description
BLAD is a prospective, monocentric, observational epidemiological study with an additional procedure (annual blood draw) evaluating the diagnostic and prognostic performance of plasma biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a large cohort of patients attending the Cognitive Disorders and Dementia Center (CDCD) at IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.Read full original descriptionShow less
The Diagnostic and Prognostic Role of Plasma Biomarkers in Alzheimer's Disease
BLAD is a prospective, monocentric, observational epidemiological study with an additional procedure (annual blood draw) evaluating the diagnostic and prognostic performance of plasma biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a large cohort of patients attending the Cognitive Disorders and Dementia Center (CDCD) at IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
2000 patients will be enrolled and followed annually for 5 years. A validation sub-study (150 patients) will compare plasma biomarkers against CSF biomarkers as the gold standard.
The study aims to establish plasma biomarkers as a less invasive and more cost-effective alternative to CSF analysis and amyloid-PET for the diagnosis and prognosis of AD.
Inclusion: Age greater than or equal to 40 years (patients of childbearing age are admitted); Subjective or objective cognitive complaints, progressive in nature and of suspected neurodegenerative origin; Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score greater than or equal to 18; Additional inclusion criterion for the validation sub-study:; Availability of CSF biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease within 6 months of the blood draw.
Exclusion: Secondary forms of cognitive impairment based on medical history, neurological examination, and neuroimaging findings; Rapidly progressive cognitive decline occurring over weeks or months, typically indicative of prion disease, neoplasia, or metabolic disorders; Secondary forms of cognitive impairment based on medical history, neurological examination, and neuroimaging findings; Rapidly progressive cognitive decline occurring over weeks or months, typically indicative of prion disease, neoplasia, or metabolic disorders; Pregnancy or breastfeeding; Subjects who require a legal guardian or tutor; Pregnancy; Subjects who are unable to give informed consent and require a legal guardian or tutor.