Jules Cameron, a 39-year-old DJ and presenter known for her work in Ibiza, recently underwent a blood test designed to assess the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The decision followed the death of her father, Ewen Cameron, who passed away in February after living with the illness for a decade.

Ewen Cameron, a former Lieutenant Colonel in the army and recipient of an MBE, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s around 2016. His decline deeply affected Cameron, who described her father’s progression as “one of my life’s greatest tragedies.” She recalled particularly distressing moments, including an incident at a London railway station when her father, confused, disappeared briefly, prompting her frantic search.

The blood test Cameron took, known as LucentAD pTau217, is offered in clinics across the United Kingdom, including services that allow home visits by phlebotomists. Developed by a U.S. health company, the test measures levels of the protein pTau217 in the blood, a biological marker closely linked to Alzheimer’s pathology. While not a diagnostic tool on its own, the test is designed to complement clinical evaluations of cognitive concerns. Research indicates this blood marker may offer accuracy comparable to more invasive procedures such as amyloid PET scans and lumbar punctures.

The test is gaining traction in the U.K. and is currently under clinical trial at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology. The ongoing study involves 1,100 participants recruited from 20 NHS memory clinics, aiming to validate the test’s accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and suitability for routine use in the public healthcare system.

For Cameron, the motivation to take the test came from her personal experience witnessing her father’s battle with Alzheimer’s and her resulting anxiety about her own risk. She has adopted lifestyle changes focused on brain health, including fasting, reducing alcohol intake, prioritizing sleep, and increasing exercise. Cameron also notes challenges related to her attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which affects her memory and cognitive function—a factor that some studies suggest may slightly elevate the risk of neurocognitive disorders.

Her father’s deterioration was marked not only by cognitive decline but also emotional challenges. Cameron described how his confidence waned as he struggled with memory losses, such as forgetting names at army reunions. She shared how he maintained a strong connection to music even as other memories faded, exemplified by a joyful video they recorded dancing to the Blues Brothers. Throughout his illness, Cameron supported him with family trips and a sensitivity to his changing sense of reality, which included mistaking television personalities for friends.

The impact of Alzheimer’s on her family was significant, particularly on her mother, who acted as his primary carer. Cameron noted the strain the disease imposed, including episodes of resistance and anger from her father during daily care. Ewen Cameron’s final days were spent in hospice care, described by his daughter as relatively peaceful.

Cameron’s experience illustrates both the personal toll of Alzheimer’s and the emerging medical advances aimed at earlier detection. As blood tests like LucentAD pTau217 move toward wider adoption, they may offer patients and families earlier insight into risk, potentially enabling preventive strategies and better care planning.