• Risk assessment in Alzheimer’s disease
About the Alzheimer's Risk Test

The Alzheimer's Risk Test is an established test that can assess the genetic risk of cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s disease from a simple saliva sample.

The test's primary application will be for physicians assessing new patients, with cognitive concerns, to assess their future risk of cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s disease. It can also provide greater insight into the risk of cognitive decline in existing patients. 

Additionally, Alzheimer's Risk Test can be used in clinical study recruitment strategies to identify patients most suitable to enter trials of investigational Alzheimer’s drugs, including those patients with mild cognitive decline who are most at risk of subsequent decline within the timescale of the study.

The test only requires a blood or saliva sample. An easy-to-use saliva collection device enables elderly and vulnerable patients to provide a sample from home if they are not wishing or easily able to attend a healthcare setting.

Alzheimer's Risk Test is a genetic test, that analyses patient genotypes generated from an array of over 100,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms –  genetic variants – that are associated with elevated or reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

More specifically, the test consists of a polygenic risk score – generated by an algorithm – which encompasses the contribution of all those genetic variants, alongside age and sex, to provide a single risk score for that individual.

APOE status remains a major genetic component of risk in Alzheimer’s disease, especially carriers of the E4 allele. However, Alzheimer's Risk Test provides additional information beyond the genetic risk of APOE alone, providing greater insight into the E4 heterozygote and E3 homozygote groups. Alzheimer's Risk Test reports on APOE status.  

Patients and carers

This test will help you and your physician to better understand your genetic risk of cognitive decline due to Alzheimer's disease.

A sample of your DNA is collected through either a saliva collection device or blood sample, and analysed against over 100,000 specific variants in your DNA associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The readout from the test also takes account of your age and sex. 

The test will also report on APOE status – a known risk factor in Alzheimer's.  

Only your physician can order the Alzheimer's Risk Test for you.