UK Awards £5m for Early Dementia Tests

The UK government has awarded £5 million to researchers to develop blood and saliva tests that could diagnose dementia before symptoms appear and says such tests could be available on the NHS within four years. Science Minister Lord Vallance and Health Minister Zubir Ahmed announced the funding at the UK Dementia Research Institute, saying work may include tests for protein build-up, saliva hormone changes and AI-powered routine assistants to support daily living and ease pressure on hospitals. The government is targeting a diagnosis rate of more than 92% of patients within 18 weeks of referral by 2029, up from about 46.8% today. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a progressive condition that causes atrophy of the frontal and temporal lobes, producing shifts in personality, speech and memory and typically shortens life expectancy (about 7.5 years after symptom onset). FTD is often classified as an early-onset dementia though roughly a quarter of patients develop symptoms after age 65. Families are advised to seek clinical assessment because diagnosis relies on recognising symptoms across several core domains and early supportive strategies can help manage progression and care needs.