Detecting early signs of Alzheimer’s in older adults can be challenging, but researchers have found that daily tests using smartphones could be a game-changer. These tests offer a quicker and less demanding way to spot memory changes linked to Alzheimer’s.
This is particularly vital as Alzheimer’s research shifts focus to the preclinical stage. During this stage, people might show subtle signs of decline that are not easily noticeable. These early signs are crucial for understanding different risk levels and for timely intervention.
A study by Mass General Brigham researchers has brought new insights into this area. They explored whether assessing memory over several days could reveal Alzheimer’s-related changes.
Their findings, published in the Annals of Neurology, are promising. The study showed that smartphone-based cognitive testing could detect Alzheimer’s-related cognitive changes in older adults who otherwise appeared normal.
The study involved 164 older adults between 60 and 91 years old, who were cognitively unimpaired. Among them, 36 had elevated amyloid levels (a marker for Alzheimer’s), while 128 did not.
They used their smartphones to complete the Multi-Day Boston Remote Assessment for Neurocognitive Health (BRANCH) test for 12 minutes daily over a week. The BRANCH test included three tasks:
- The Digit Sign Test: Participants matched digits with street signs.
- The Groceries Test: They remembered prices for grocery items.
- FNAME: They recalled face-name pairs.
These participants also took standard pencil and paper cognitive tests in clinics, and 123 of them were reevaluated after a year.
The study found that those with a slower learning curve, as seen in the smartphone tests, also had higher amyloid levels. More importantly, these individuals were more likely to show cognitive decline in standard tests over the year.
The research team plans to use these findings in clinical trials. They aim to use the BRANCH testing method to identify people who are best suited for trials focusing on preventing Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Kathryn Papp, the lead author from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, believes these findings are significant. They offer insights into the specific type of memory that deteriorates in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.
This could greatly improve how treatment effects are measured in clinical trials. Additionally, it could help monitor the risk of cognitive decline in the aging population more effectively.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about the likely cause of Alzheimer’s disease , and new non-drug treatment that could help prevent Alzheimer’s.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about diet that may help prevent Alzheimer’s, and results showing some dementia cases could be prevented by changing these things.
The research findings can be found in the Annals of Neurology
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