UK Biobank, the large British health study, has launched a project to test 80,000 blood samples for early signs of dementia and Parkinson’s disease. The work was announced on 2 November 2026 by Alamar Biosciences and Nightingale Health, the two companies that will run the tests.
What the study will do
The project is called UKB-PRISM. It will measure hundreds of proteins in the blood of UK Biobank volunteers. Researchers want to find protein “signatures” that show brain health is changing, long before memory loss or tremors begin.
Tests will be done in Nightingale Health’s laboratories using Alamar’s NULISA technology. Three charities are funding the work: the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Alzheimer’s Research UK and LifeArc.
Adam Lewandowski, deputy chief scientist at UK Biobank, said proteins may give a snapshot of brain health “decades before conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed”.
Key facts
- Samples: 80,000 blood samples from UK Biobank participants.
- Diseases studied: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and rare dementias.
- Timeline: testing is expected to finish by the end of 2027.
- Access: the full data will then be open to approved researchers worldwide through UK Biobank.
- Scale of the problem: more than 55 million people worldwide live with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. This is on track to nearly triple by 2050.
- Parkinson’s affects more than 12 million people today and is projected to pass 25 million by 2050.
Why it matters
Today, most people learn they have dementia only after symptoms appear. A blood test that flags risk years earlier could help doctors test new treatments sooner and help people act earlier. The study will not produce a test on its own, but it will build the data needed to develop one.
What this means for older Indians and families
- The data will be available to approved researchers worldwide, so Indian scientists can apply to use it.
- India’s population aged 60 and above is projected to grow from about 10 crore in 2011 to about 23 crore by 2036, according to the government’s PIB. As more people live longer, more families will face dementia and Parkinson’s.
- For now, there is no approved blood test from this study. If you notice memory problems or tremors in a parent, speak to a doctor. The National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE) covers all 713 health districts in India.
Is your family caring for someone with dementia or Parkinson’s? Your experience can help others. Share your story or email info@healthyageing.world. Researchers and organisations can partner with us.
This article is for information only and is not medical advice.
Sources: Alamar Biosciences and Nightingale Health press release (GlobeNewswire), 2 November 2026; UK Biobank; PIB backgrounder: Elderly in India.
