Nationwide Study Using Digital Tools and Blood Tests for Early Detection of Alzheimers Disease in Adults 50 and Older

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to develop and evaluate a stepwise screening approach for early detection of Alzheimers disease AD in community populations aged 50 and above. The study addresses the growing global burden of AD, which accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases worldwide, with a focus on scalable, accessible methods suitable for low- and middle-income settings. The study integrates digital cognitive assessments and blood-based biomarkers to improve early diagnosis during the prolonged preclinical phase of the disease. The screening process involves two main steps. The first step uses digital tools including the SCD-9 questionnaire to capture subjective cognitive complaints, a digital cognitive test PCAT assessing memory and symbol matching, and a predictive model for future dementia risk. The second step confirms AD pathology through blood-based biomarkers, comparing multiple candidates such as p-tau217, p-tau181, and A240 measured via assay platforms like Simoa and CLEIA. Amyloid PET scans serve as the gold standard for AD pathology confirmation. Participants will be community residents aged 50 years or older, without prior cognitive impairment or anti-dementia drug use, and able to communicate in Chinese. Researchers will collect and analyze data on screening sensitivity and specificity, program completion, time to completion, community feasibility, compliance, and cost-effectiveness. The study spans multiple centers nationwide and involves clinical dementia rating assessments and biomarker testing, with the goal of creating a model applicable to primary healthcare systems in developing countries.

Biomarker-Integrated Digital Guidance for Early Alzheimer's Detection (BRIDGE-AD): A Nationwide Multicenter Study