A New Non-Invasive Blood Test Could Transform Early Alzheimer’s Detection
Researchers at Northern Arizona University (NAU) are working on a promising new method to detect Alzheimer’s disease at an earlier stage than ever before. The approach revolves around analyzing tiny microvesicles in the blood, particles that can reveal how the brain is using glucose. If successful, this could be a major step forward in both the early diagnosis and monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease progression.
This project is being led by Travis Gibbons, an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at NAU, with partial funding from the Arizona Alzheimer’s Association. His focus is on understanding how the brain metabolizes glucose, since disruptions in this process are strongly linked with Alzheimer’s.
Why Brain Glucose Metabolism Matters
The brain relies heavily on glucose, which functions as its primary source of fuel. In a healthy brain, glucose is consumed at a high rate, similar to how muscles burn fuel during exercise. However, in Alzheimer’s disease, brain metabolism slows down, which can be one of the earliest indicators that the disease process is underway.
Historically, studying brain metabolism in humans has been a challenge because the brain is not easily accessible. Older methods involved invasive techniques like inserting catheters into veins in the neck to collect blood flowing directly out of the brain. While this provided valuable information, it was far from practical for routine use in patients.
The new approach being developed by Gibbons and his team avoids this invasive process. Instead, they are focusing on microvesicles, tiny cellular particles that circulate in the bloodstream. Some of these microvesicles originate directly from neurons, carrying molecular “cargo” that can reflect what is happening inside brain cells.
By isolating and analyzing these particles with the help of newly available commercial kits, researchers may be able to perform what Gibbons describes as the equivalent of a non-invasive brain biopsy. This offers the possibility of gaining crucial insights into brain function without the risks and difficulties associated with more invasive procedures.
The Research in Action
The NAU team’s work is unfolding in a carefully staged process. Initially, they are testing the technique on healthy individuals to establish a baseline of results. After that, they plan to extend the study to people with mild cognitive impairment, a condition that often precedes Alzheimer’s. Finally, they will compare these findings with people already diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
The goal is to map out how glucose metabolism changes across the spectrum of brain health and disease. If successful, this method could allow doctors to track disease progression more effectively and intervene at earlier stages.
This is not the team’s first exploration of brain metabolism. In a previous study, Gibbons and his colleagues experimented with intranasal insulin delivery. Administering insulin through the nose allows it to reach the brain more efficiently than traditional injections. Following this treatment, the team analyzed blood exiting the brain and discovered biomarkers indicating improved neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to adapt and form new connections).
The next step is to determine whether these same biomarkers can be detected in microvesicles circulating in peripheral blood. If they can, this would provide a far simpler and more practical way of measuring important brain health indicators.
Collaborators and Funding
The project involves a strong team of researchers:
- Travis Gibbons – Assistant professor of biological sciences at NAU and lead investigator.
- Emily Cope – Associate professor of biological sciences at NAU, also a member of the Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium (AAC).
- K. Riley Connor – Ph.D. student in biological sciences at NAU.
- Philip Ainslie – Professor at the University of British Columbia’s Centre for Heart, Lung & Vascular Health.
The study is supported in part by funding from the Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium, which focuses on advancing research into Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
Potential Impact of the Method
If this research succeeds, it could revolutionize how Alzheimer’s is detected and monitored. Currently, diagnosing Alzheimer’s typically involves a combination of cognitive assessments, brain imaging (like PET scans), and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained via lumbar puncture. These methods are either invasive, costly, or not widely accessible.
A simple blood test that provides reliable information about brain metabolism would be a game changer. It could allow doctors to:
- Detect Alzheimer’s disease at earlier stages.
- Monitor disease progression over time.
- Assess how well patients are responding to treatments.
- Potentially recommend lifestyle interventions, such as diet and exercise, based on measurable brain health markers.
The broader vision is similar to how doctors currently manage cardiovascular disease. Just as cholesterol levels and blood pressure can guide prevention and treatment strategies, biomarkers from brain-derived microvesicles could eventually help guide brain health strategies.
The Science Behind Microvesicles
To understand why microvesicles are so promising, it helps to know what they are. Microvesicles are a type of extracellular vesicle, small bubble-like particles released by cells into the bloodstream. They can contain proteins, lipids, and genetic material, essentially acting as “messengers” that carry information about what is happening inside the cell.
In the context of Alzheimer’s, microvesicles released by neurons could contain clues about how the brain is processing glucose, how neurons are functioning, and whether disease-related changes are taking place. Because these vesicles cross from the brain into the blood, they provide a rare window into the state of an otherwise inaccessible organ.
This area of research is still relatively young, but the potential is enormous. Scientists are actively exploring how extracellular vesicles could be used in the diagnosis of a variety of conditions, not just Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s Disease: A Brief Background
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting millions worldwide. It is characterized by progressive memory loss, cognitive decline, and changes in behavior.
Two hallmarks of the disease are:
- Amyloid plaques – clumps of beta-amyloid protein that accumulate between neurons.
- Neurofibrillary tangles – twisted strands of tau protein inside neurons.
These changes contribute to cell death and reduced communication between neurons. However, by the time these features are visible in imaging or strongly apparent in symptoms, significant brain damage has already occurred. That is why early detection is critical.
Current Diagnostic Tools
At present, diagnosing Alzheimer’s is a complex process. Doctors rely on:
- Cognitive and memory tests to evaluate symptoms.
- Brain imaging, such as PET scans, to detect amyloid plaques.
- Cerebrospinal fluid analysis to measure levels of amyloid and tau proteins.
While helpful, these methods have major limitations. PET scans are expensive and not available everywhere. Lumbar punctures are invasive and often avoided unless absolutely necessary. That leaves a significant gap for a practical, reliable, and accessible test—a gap that blood-based approaches are aiming to fill.
Other Recent Advances in Alzheimer’s Blood Tests
The research at NAU is part of a broader push to develop blood-based tests for Alzheimer’s. In May 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the first blood test to help aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. This test, the Lumipulse G pTau217/β-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio, measures the ratio of specific plasma proteins linked with amyloid plaque buildup in the brain.
Clinical studies showed that about 91.7% of positive results from the Lumipulse test correctly matched the presence of amyloid plaques (as confirmed by PET scans or CSF analysis), and 97.3% of negative results matched cases without plaques. Only fewer than 20% of tests were indeterminate.
While the FDA-approved test is meant to support, not replace, existing diagnostic tools, it demonstrates that blood biomarkers are moving into real-world clinical use. The work being done at NAU could complement these advances by targeting brain metabolism, providing a different angle for understanding Alzheimer’s risk and progression.
Looking Ahead
The NAU team acknowledges that their process is complex and requires precision, but they believe the potential payoff is worth it. By learning to read the “messages” carried in brain-derived microvesicles, scientists may be able to uncover early warning signs of Alzheimer’s and open new doors for prevention and treatment.
If validated through larger studies, this technique could make Alzheimer’s detection as routine as a cholesterol test, fundamentally changing how society approaches brain health.
Research Reference
Read the Northern Arizona University report on this research
