A group of scientists from Rutgers University in Newark has created a new kind of memory test that uses video games to help doctors find signs of Alzheimer’s disease long before symptoms start.
These early signs can show up many years—sometimes 10 to 15—before a person notices any memory problems or confusion. This test could one day help doctors detect Alzheimer’s earlier and more easily than ever before.
Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that affects the brain. It slowly damages memory and thinking skills, and eventually it becomes hard for a person to take care of themselves. There is no cure, and most treatments today focus only on slowing it down.
That’s why spotting the disease early is so important. If doctors can find it before serious damage is done, there may be a better chance of slowing it even more—or one day stopping it altogether.
Right now, some of the best ways to detect Alzheimer’s early involve blood tests that look for certain markers in the body. But those tests still need needles, lab equipment, and trained professionals.
The new Rutgers test doesn’t require any of that. It’s completely noninvasive, meaning it doesn’t involve needles or surgery, and it can be done on a computer—even from home.
This video-game-like test works by asking people to spot patterns. For example, the game might show different shapes and colors, and the person has to figure out a rule and apply it to new situations. This helps measure how well their brain can adapt and learn—a skill that usually weakens in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.
The researchers at Rutgers have been working on this test for over 20 years. They are part of the Aging & Brain Health Alliance, a research group focused on finding ways to prevent Alzheimer’s by looking at lifestyle and genetics.
In their latest study, 148 people who did not show any signs of memory problems took the test. They also had brain scans and gave blood samples so researchers could compare results.
All of the study participants were African American. This group is more than twice as likely to get Alzheimer’s than other groups, but they are often left out of research. The team at Rutgers hopes their work can help change that and make Alzheimer’s research more inclusive. Still, the scientists believe their results could apply to people from any background.
The video game test was compared to standard memory tests, such as asking someone to draw a clock or remember a list of words. Those older tests often catch Alzheimer’s too late, after a person already has trouble remembering things.
They can also be less accurate for people with less education or who come from different cultures. The Rutgers test is different—it only needs simple knowledge of shapes and colors and doesn’t rely on language. That means it could work well for people all around the world, regardless of background or education level.
The study also included brain scans using MRI machines. These scans helped the scientists look at the hippocampus, a part of the brain that plays a big role in memory and is one of the first areas damaged by Alzheimer’s.
By combining the video game test with brain scans and blood samples, the researchers were able to confirm that their new method is just as accurate as modern blood tests.
This research may also help drug companies. Right now, testing new Alzheimer’s drugs takes a long time because it’s hard to know who has the disease in its very early stages. With this new tool, scientists could find people earlier and begin testing drugs before too much brain damage occurs, saving both time and money.
The team is hopeful that one day these tests can be done in a doctor’s office or even at home, especially for people who have trouble getting to medical clinics.
Mark Gluck, the lead neuroscientist on the project, says the test could make a real difference in how soon doctors can act to protect the brain. His colleague Miray Budak says the team is especially excited because the test shows signs of Alzheimer’s before any memory loss is noticeable.
Bernadette Fausto, another researcher involved, said some people wrongly believe that if they haven’t shown signs of Alzheimer’s by a certain age, they’re safe. But this research shows that brain changes can start long before symptoms do.
If people knew about these changes early, they might take better care of their brain health—by exercising more, eating healthier, and staying mentally active.
Review and Analysis of the Findings:
This Rutgers study shows a big step forward in how we might detect Alzheimer’s in the future. The new video game test is easy to use, doesn’t need medical tools, and works for people from many different backgrounds. It can spot the disease years before symptoms begin, which gives doctors and patients more time to act.
The test also avoids problems seen in older memory checks, like needing a certain level of education or strong language skills. By using simple tasks that focus on shapes and patterns, it gives a more equal chance to everyone.
Though more studies are needed to test this on larger and more diverse groups, the early results are very promising. If widely used, this could lead to earlier diagnosis, better planning for patients, and more effective testing of new drugs. Overall, this study brings hope that a low-cost, noninvasive tool could help us stay one step ahead of Alzheimer’s.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about Vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and Oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and results showing flavonoid-rich foods could improve survival in Parkinson’s disease.
The research findings can be found in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy.
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