There are 3 Great Minds Live events each year and for the Autumn 2025, Great Minds volunteers were joined by researchers and clinicians from DPUK’s READ-OUT study. Titled Decoding Dementia: Biomarkers, Big Data, and the Future of Diagnosis, the event was broadcast live to hundreds more online and is available to watch on YouTube.
Here, I'm summarising some of the main theses and observations made by our speakers, but you can watch each of them again on our YouTube channel.
Leading experts from Dementias Platform UK spoke about cutting-edge developments in blood-based biomarkers, artificial intelligence, and large-scale data analysis, all of which are transforming the landscape of dementia research and diagnosis.
Big Data Reveals Hidden Patterns
Professor John Gallacher, Director of Dementias Platform UK at the University of Oxford, explored what ‘big data’ has revealed about dementia over the past five years. Drawing on the UK Biobank's 500,000 participants, Prof Gallacher demonstrated how precision through scale is uncovering previously hidden patterns in dementia risk.
"When you have 500,000 adults, you get precision—and that means you can move on to the next question," Prof Gallacher explained, showcasing how factors from physical activity patterns to residential density and air pollution affect dementia risk across different age groups.
He highlighted DPUK's global reach, with over 1,200 users in 43 countries accessing data, and outlined ambitious plans for international data federation. "We make the data available so that people with the best ideas can access the best data to get the best results," he said.
Blood Tests: Promise and Pragmatism
Professor James Rowe from Cambridge University provided insights into the validity and utility of blood-based biomarkers in Alzheimer's and non-Alzheimer's dementias. Whilst acknowledging the excitement around blood tests that can diagnose Alzheimer's disease with 95% accuracy at under £100—compared to expensive PET scans—Prof Rowe urged caution.
"Accuracy is not enough," he warned, drawing parallels with cancer screening programmes that initially caused more harm than good. "We need to think about the setting and understand individual people with different causes for symptoms."
Professor Vanessa Raymont from Oxford University addressed the critical question: "Are we ready for blood-based biomarkers in the NHS?" She highlighted both the opportunities and challenges, noting that whilst blood biomarkers are accessible and scalable, significant infrastructure and training are needed.
Prof Raymont described DPUK's READOUT study, which is recruiting across 28 UK sites to validate blood biomarkers in real-world populations, with particular emphasis on diverse ethnicities, the very elderly, and people with other medical conditions. The study is currently ahead of recruitment targets. The study is part of the Blood Biomarker Challenge, enabled by the People’s Postcode Lottery and other funders.
She also discussed Oxford's Brain Health Clinic, which has successfully integrated research assessments with NHS care, demonstrating that patients—including a 101-year-old participant—are willing and able to undergo additional testing when it adds value to their diagnosis.
AI Transforms Diagnosis and Care
Dr Ivan Koychev, Great Minds lead from Imperial College London, presented compelling evidence about the potential of artificial intelligence to revolutionise dementia detection and personalised care. He suggested that AI methods can detect pre-clinical forms of rare dementias more accurately than traditional approaches.
He noted how it was particularly striking that research is showing how AI may be able to identify which specific dementia medications work best for individual patients. When doctors prescribed the AI-recommended medication, patients experienced 6–12 months of better memory and thinking skills.
Dr Koychev unveiled plans for conversational AI agents that could conduct diagnostic interviews in patients' native languages, integrate fragmented care information, and coordinate support across GP surgeries, hospitals, and social care—addressing a critical gap in dementia care delivery.
"I certainly wouldn't say AI will replace doctors, but there's a good chance that doctors who use technology competently are likely to replace those that don't," he noted.
Public Engagement at the Heart
In a lively panel Q&A session, the impact of genetic as opposed to lifestyle factors was discussed along with the challenges of integrating multimodal data. It was also discussed how to link research evidence more effectively to influence government policy.
Prof Raymont emphasised the importance of public voices in shaping future services: "I think we need a bigger public conversation about how our services need to change. I don't think I should be telling you what to prioritise—I can advise you, but it's a public decision."
The panel agreed that whilst breakthrough treatments and diagnostic tools are emerging, significant work remains to ensure they can be implemented equitably across the NHS. Research suggests it could take 22 years for the UK to clear waiting lists for new dementia drugs based on current specialist capacity.
A Transformative Phase
The Great Minds Live event demonstrated that dementia research is entering a transformative phase, where big data, artificial intelligence, and blood biomarkers are converging to enable earlier, more accurate diagnosis and personalised treatment.
As Prof Gallacher concluded: "We're at an exciting time. We have the science through big data which can genuinely address these questions—and 20 years ago we couldn't."
The event underscored DPUK's commitment to making research accessible and engaging for the public, whilst advancing the science needed to improve outcomes for the million people living with dementia in the UK.
For more information about Dementias Platform UK and the Great Minds initiative, visit www.dementiasplatform.uk