A simple finger-prick blood test could potentially identify individuals at risk of developing eight major non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, according to new research. The test also may help identify risk factors for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and multiple sclerosis.
These findings, published in Frontiers in Science, focus on the glucose ketone index (GKI), a score derived from the ratio of glucose (blood sugar) and ketones in a blood sample. Ketones are chemicals produced by the liver when the body burns fat for energy instead of glucose. Researchers suggest that the GKI may offer a more comprehensive picture of a person's metabolic health than measuring blood sugar levels alone.
Non-communicable diseases are long-term conditions that cannot be passed from person to person and are currently responsible for approximately three-quarters of all deaths globally. By 2050, NCDs are projected to surpass infectious diseases as the leading global health burden. Professor Thomas Seyfried from Boston College, a lead author of the study, stated that NCDs could account for up to 75 percent of all disability-adjusted life-years within the next few decades, potentially leading to a significant decline in life expectancy. Seyfried emphasized that these conditions are largely influenced by lifestyle factors rather than genetic predisposition.
The researchers reviewed existing studies and concluded that assessing blood sugar and ketone levels could serve as a straightforward method for evaluating metabolic health. The GKI was initially developed to help monitor cancer patients adhering to a ketogenic diet. The study suggests that a lower GKI, indicating lower blood sugar and higher ketone levels, could signify a healthier metabolism, while a higher score might suggest poorer metabolic health.
Experts believe this test could assist physicians in monitoring the impact of diet and exercise on an individual's metabolism and inflammation levels. However, the authors stressed that larger clinical studies are required to validate whether the GKI can accurately predict disease risk or improve treatment outcomes. Dr. Derek Lee, another lead author from Boston College, noted that validation in broader studies could aid efforts to address the substantial health burden posed by NCDs. Dr. Isabella Cooper from the University of Westminster added that quantitative GKI testing could provide a clear readout that supports and tracks sustained behavioral changes relevant to assessing disease risk and treatment response. She emphasized the urgent need for larger, standardized clinical studies to determine the predictive capability of GKI values across various diseases and to establish disease-specific target ranges.