Early detection tools for Alzheimer's disease: a multi-site observational study

This study is open to adults aged 40 and over who can speak and read English comfortably. Researchers are looking for two main groups of people. First, they welcome adults being seen at specialist memory clinics for the first time due to concerns about their thinking or memory. Second, they are looking for healthy volunteers aged 50 and over who do not have memory difficulties, to see how the tests work across the general population.

To join, you should feel comfortable using a smartphone, tablet, or computer to complete basic activities. It is also helpful, though not required, to have a friend, partner, or family member who can act as a study partner and answer occasional questions about your day-to-day well-being.

You might not be able to participate if you have severe sight, hearing, or neurological conditions that prevent you from using a touchscreen or understanding the study instructions. People who are unable to give informed consent for themselves will also not be able to take part.

Taking part does not involve testing any new medicines or changing your current treatments. Instead, you will be asked to complete several simple checks. You will answer questions about your overall health and lifestyle, and you will complete short, interactive thinking and memory games on a digital screen, either at home or during a clinic visit. You will also provide a small blood sample so researchers can check for natural markers related to brain health.

If you are already attending a memory clinic, some standard tests your doctor orders—such as routine brain scans—may be shared with the research team. In some cases, you may be invited to take part in extra optional checks, like a lumbar puncture, but this is entirely your choice. The wider project runs until December 2028, and taking part generally involves one or two main study sessions, with any ongoing follow-up clearly explained by your local clinic team beforehand.