Researchers in Southampton are testing a new laser-based method to detect dementia early, which is being heralded as a "paradigm shift".

The study, if successful, could help doctors identify patients who would benefit most from new drug treatments.

The project, involving University Hospital Southampton and the University of Southampton, is funded by UK Research and Innovation.

Professor Chris Kipps, consultant neurologist at University Hospital Southampton, said: "The slow progression of dementia, with a long pre-symptomatic phase, presents a formidable challenge in early diagnosis.

"This laser-based technique could change the way we approach dementia diagnosis and may significantly improve affordability and efficiency of current biomarker analysis. It represents a breakthrough in medical technology.

"This innovation is not just a leap in healthcare quality; it's a paradigm shift, redefining our approach to neurodegenerative disease in the clinic."

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The test creates a 'biochemical fingerprint' to diagnose and differentiate between dementia types.

The study team has described the development as a "breakthrough in medical technology," with early results showing up to 93 per cent accuracy.

Dementia affects more than 850,000 people in the UK, and this number is expected to increase to 1.4 million by 2040. There are various types of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, which worsen over time.

Symptoms range from memory loss to language difficulties. Diagnosing dementia early is currently challenging, often taking over two years.

The new technology, known as Multi-excitation Raman spectroscopy (MX-Raman), analyses a drop of bodily fluid using lasers to create a unique signal profile, or spectrum.

This profile gives a 'biochemical fingerprint' of a person's health and disease status. The test, which can provide results in seconds, could be used directly in clinics and is cheaper than current diagnostic methods.

Prof Sumeet Mahajan, professor of molecular biophotonics and imaging at the University of Southampton, said: "Our integrated approach has the potential to revolutionise dementia diagnostics. There is an urgent unmet clinical need for more discriminatory, efficient and cost-effective solutions.

"Our holistic MX-Raman technique is uniquely equipped to address these challenges and we want to see this technology lead to vastly improved patient outcomes."