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A new test could revolutionize the diagnosis of dementia
The UK's National Health Service is conducting a five-minute iPad test to quickly and efficiently identify the first signs of dementia. Such a test could bring huge benefits to patients and their families and recognize the disease years before the onset of symptoms.
A Massachusetts Institute of Technology study found that testing an iPad in the future could help diagnose dementia much earlier, which would improve the treatment and management of the disease. The results of this study were published in the English journal "Scientific Reports".
There is no cure for dementia
Early diagnosis could lead to effective therapies. Dementia can not currently be cured. Such an innovative test could also reduce the number of affected people examined for signs of dementia, saving the health services a lot of time and money, the researchers said. The test, which does not require medical follow-up, uses artificial intelligence to evaluate how the brain works.
Participants had to identify the animals in the photos
A hundred photos will be presented to the participants. Then he asks if the images contain an animal. Some clearly show an animal, others less obvious animals, others do not contain any animal. Photos appear on the iPad only for a fraction of a second. Possible anomalies, which are indicated by differences in reaction rate and accuracy, may indicate dementia well before the onset of memory loss. This test could be a more effective tool to detect the first signs of dementia than previous evaluations, speculate the authors of the study. The new ability to diagnose dementia with the help of an iPad is already in the testing phase. If all goes well, the test could probably already be used next year in the UK.
Existing tests can be influenced by a few factors
There is currently no single test for dementia. Until now, patients have been diagnosed according to skills such as memory, concentration, attention ability and language skills. It is recognized that the level of education of a person can affect the existing tests. This also has a significant influence on whether patients have already performed the test.
Patients may need to perform the test twice
The iPad test is based on research that identifies visual processing problems that may give early indication of the development of dementia. Each image differs from other images in terms of complexity and degree of surprise. Many mathematical features of the image play a role, so that each image acts as a stimulus, explain the authors of the study. If the iPad test indicates early signs of mild cognitive impairment or dementia, the patient may be asked to repeat it if he is unusually tired, if he has been drinking alcohol the night before or if he was distracted during the test.
The test allows the production of new drugs
By determining which parts of the brain are affected first, the iPad test could then help scientists to develop a cure. The researchers report that billions of dollars in research funds will be spent on drug testing for later stages of dementia. By identifying people with the first signs of the disease, experts can get new information. The test is quick and easy to perform and is designed to examine areas of the brain affected in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
Interestingly, this early-stage test can help identify a disease even before memory and thinking problems affect the lives of those affected.
Additional research is needed
"It is encouraging that this technology will be included in studies assessing their potential," the researchers said. Sensitive IA techniques offer a tremendous opportunity to improve the detection of diseases causing dementia and ensure accurate diagnosis at the right time. Rigorous testing on a large number of people is needed before you can determine if the iPad test is more accurate and sensitive than other ways to detect dementia. (As)
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