Tasso and Neurogen Partner to Expand At-Home Alzheimer’s Testing

Neurogen Biomarking has entered a partnership with Tasso to incorporate the company’s needle-free blood collection devices into Neurogen’s home-based Alzheimer’s testing platform. The collaboration is intended to support Neurogen’s broader brain-health model, which focuses on improving access to biomarker-driven evaluation for individuals experiencing early memory concerns.

Neurogen’s platform combines a blood-based biomarker assay with a digital cognitive assessment to identify individuals who may be at increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease. As part of the workflow, licensed specialists conduct home visits and complete specimen collection using both the Tasso+ device and a traditional venipuncture draw. All samples are processed in certified laboratories, and results are subsequently reviewed with patients through telehealth consultations with board-certified neurologists.

A study led by Neurogen Chief Scientific Officer Elisabeth Thijssen has shown that samples collected with Tasso’s device were appropriate for Alzheimer’s biomarker analysis and demonstrated correlation with results obtained through venipuncture. The findings reinforce the potential for Neurogen’s integrated model—home sample collection, digital cognitive testing and virtual neurology review—to reduce delays commonly associated with cognitive-health evaluation. Neurogen indicated that additional research using Tasso’s technology is in progress as part of its scaling strategy.

The company’s at-home platform, currently in beta, is designed to shorten a diagnostic process that often takes five to seven years, with a target timeframe of five to seven months. Tasso cofounder and chief technology officer Erwin Berthier noted, “Increasingly, people are looking for ways to receive healthcare from home. For older adults or individuals with mobility challenges, cognitive concerns or limited transportation, traveling to a clinic for a blood draw can be a significant barrier to getting timely care.” He added that easing the logistical and physical challenges of blood collection enables broader participation in testing. Berthier also emphasized that geographic barriers remain substantial: “For older adults or individuals with mobility or cognitive challenges, that burden can be physically, financially and emotionally overwhelming, leading many to delay or forgo care.” He stated, “This model supports broader access and improves equity in cognitive-health evaluation.”

Neurogen founder and CEO Rany Aburashed explained that the company aims to reach underserved communities nationwide, stating, “I founded Neurogen to make that paradigm shift so people can gain answers to their memory concerns before they become significant.” He added, “Most patients enter the system far too late, after years of uncertainty and missed opportunities for intervention and that’s tragic.” According to Aburashed, earlier identification through the company’s ecosystem can open pathways to available treatments, research opportunities and improved long-term planning. He noted that health systems may need to adjust planning and triage models to support the shift toward earlier-stage cognitive-care evaluation.

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