HKUST Annual Report 2023-2024

28 Lab to Market Research Excellence Game-Changing Alzheimer’s Disease Blood Test Rolled Out An HKUST-driven international collaboration, led by President Prof. Nancy IP (Life Science), has developed a blood test that enables early detection and effective monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in an accurate and cost-effective manner. AD affects over 55 million people worldwide and is forecast to rise significantly in the coming decades. Current means of diagnosing AD include cognitive assessment, brain imaging or cerebrospinal fluid biomarker measurement, which are subjective, expensive, or invasive. This innovative blood test simply measures the levels of 21 blood protein biomarkers to assess disease status, allowing early detection, comprehensive analysis, timely treatment, and close monitoring of the disease. Moreover, as the test is applicable across diverse ethnic populations, it can be used globally. HKUST start-up, Cognitact Limited, is now providing testing services.