Alzheimer's: they use virtual reality to detect the disease until 30 years before the onset of symptoms

In the previous notes of Comfort We explain how virtual reality and even a smartphone video game help to understand what it means to live with dementia. It is not only a contribution to the relatives of the patients, but it is also a fundamental element of medical research for possible future treatments.

On this occasion, a group of scientists presented a study combines two of the mentioned elements. A video game based on virtual reality makes it possible to detect Alzheimer's disease until 30 years before the appearance of the first symptoms. The work is reflected in the latest edition of the academic publication Brain.

This is a type of digital test that promises 90% accuracy, according to Dr. Dennis Chan, lead author of the work of the University of Cambridge. In current badessments based on questions and other items, the accuracy level is only 50%.

The badysis developed by North American researchers uses virtual reality viewers to examine the memory of instructions o slogans: This is usually the first skill affected by Alzheimer's disease. "We do not want to continue with the questions and answers, the results of which are not optimalArgued Chan of the University of Cambridge, who has so far used this technique in 86 elderly patients.

The researcher explained, "The virtual reality program badyzes whether the person's behaviors change. place This is one of the first factors to be affected. Does the patient begin to choose different paths or retrace his steps? These are warning signs. And dementia, or Alzheimer's disease in particular, is reported in these tests. "

Chan predicted that the same controls can be done directly from any cell phone in five years. Although there is still no cure, the medications help reduce symptoms. "Doctors can intervene early by advising to change the lifestyle and reduce the risk of developing the disease," he said.

Numbers. Alzheimer's disease is the fifth leading cause of death in Argentina. It affects more than 300 thousand Argentines, according to Alzheimer's Association. Worldwide, at least 44 million people are living with dementia, turning the disease into a global health crisis that needs to be addressed.

Being diagnosed with Alzheimer's changes the life of the person with the disease, as well as your family and friends. Causes problems with memory, reasoning and behavior. In the early stage, the signals may be minimal, but as the disease causes more damage to the brain, the symptoms worsen.

In addition to memory loss, patients with this condition may suffer:

– Problems to perform tasks that were easy before.

– Difficulty solving problems.

– changes in mood or personality; get away from friends and family.

– Communication problems, written or oral.

– Confusion on places, people and events.

– Visual changes, such as problems to understand the images.