Simple at-home brainwave test could detect Alzheimer’s years before diagnosis
The three-minute test that could detect Alzheimer’s early
- A new three-minute "brainwave" test, named Fastball, developed by University of Bath researchers, could detect Alzheimer's years before a formal diagnosis.
- The passive EEG test records electrical activity in the brain while participants view images, reliably identifying memory problems in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
- Researchers found the Fastball test can be conducted in patients' homes, GP surgeries, and memory clinics, addressing an urgent need for more accessible and lower-cost screening.
- The breakthrough is considered vital for early diagnosis, particularly as new Alzheimer's drugs like donanemab and lecanemab are most effective in the disease's early stages.
- Led by Dr George Stothart and supported by the dementia research charity BRACE, the study aims to provide a cheap, portable, and practical tool for widespread Alzheimer's diagnosis.