Researchers in Catalonia have developed the first blood test capable of anticipating whether patients with mild cognitive impairment will progress to Alzheimer’s dementia. The breakthrough, led by ADmit Therapeutics, a spin-off from the IDIBELL research institute with clinical coordination from Bellvitge Hospital, marks a new chapter in neurodegenerative medicine.
The diagnostic tool, known as MAP-AD, is the first of its kind to provide a prognostic assessment rather than simply confirming existing pathology. By measuring novel mitochondrial biomarkers, specifically mitochondrial DNA methylation, and combining the data with clinical indicators, it predicts with high accuracy which patients are likely to advance to dementia.
‘Having a reliable tool that foresees disease progression allows us to inform families better and to guide interventions more effectively,’ explained Dr Jordi Gascón, head of the Memory Unit at Bellvitge Hospital and coordinator of the trial. The multi-centre study included patients with mild cognitive impairment and healthy volunteers across several international hospitals and biobanks.
The test has received CE-IVDR certification, confirming it meets strict EU standards for safety and efficacy. Its development coincides with the launch of the new Memory Unit at Bellvitge, which has already cut waiting times for cognitive assessments from 12 months to just 15 days.
For families and clinicians alike, the innovation represents hope. By spotting which patients will decline and which will remain stable, the MAP-AD test offers a critical window for early intervention.
👉 Join our WhatsApp broadcast channel to get all of the latest news delivered to you
