A team of researchers has developed two promising new screening methods that could revolutionize early detection of cognitive decline, potentially allowing for earlier intervention in conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
AI-Powered Motor Function Analysis Detects Brain Decline
University of Missouri researchers have created a portable system powered by artificial intelligence that can detect early signs of brain decline by analyzing specific aspects of motor function. The system successfully identified 83% of participants who had already been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
"The areas of the brain involved in cognitive impairment overlap with areas of the brain involved in motor function, so when one is diminished, the other is impacted as well," explained senior researcher Trent Guess, an associate professor at the University of Missouri. "These can be very subtle differences in motor function related to balance and walking that our new device is able to detect but would go unnoticed through observation."
The testing protocol involves capturing seniors' movements using a camera and a force board—a device that measures pressure and balance as a person stands on it. Participants were asked to perform simple tasks like standing, walking, and standing up from a bench while simultaneously counting backwards in intervals of seven.
"Our portable system can detect if a person walks slower or doesn't take as big of a step because they are thinking very hard," said lead researcher Jamie Hall, an associate teaching professor at the University of Missouri. "Some people have more sway and are less balanced or are slower to stand up when they are sitting. Our technology can measure these subtle differences in a way that you could not with a stopwatch."
The research team compared results from 19 seniors with MCI to those from 28 healthy seniors who performed the same tasks. The AI system's high accuracy rate suggests significant potential for widespread screening applications.
Olfactory Testing Shows Promise for Early Detection
In a separate study, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a peel-and-sniff test that could serve as another early indicator of cognitive decline.
The study, published March 24 in the journal Scientific Reports, found that older adults with mild cognitive impairment scored significantly lower on odor identification and memory tasks compared to people with normal brain function.
"Our goal has been to develop and validate a cost-effective, non-invasive test that can be performed at home, helping to set the stage for advancing research and treatment for Alzheimer's," said senior researcher Dr. Mark Albers, a neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
The test requires participants to sniff odor labels placed on a card, identify each scent from a set of four options, and answer questions about their certainty. The researchers found that while the ability to identify and remember odors naturally declines with age, those with MCI showed markedly lower performance.
The test demonstrated consistent results across both English and Spanish speakers, and participants were able to successfully complete the assessment whether or not they received assistance from a research assistant.
Clinical Significance and Future Applications
Mild cognitive impairment is a condition characterized by memory or thinking problems that exceed normal age-related changes but haven't progressed to dementia. It's often an early warning sign for Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
"Alzheimer's disease is a significant problem here in the U.S. We know that if we can identify people early, we can provide early intervention to halt or slow the progression of the disease," Hall noted. "Only about 8% of people in the U.S. who are believed to have MCI receive a clinical diagnosis."
Both screening methods aim to address this diagnostic gap by providing accessible, non-invasive tools that could be deployed in various settings.
The University of Missouri team envisions their portable AI system being used in health departments, assisted living facilities, community centers, clinics, and senior centers. Additionally, Guess suggested the technology could have broader applications: "This portable system has many other applications, too, including looking at those with concussions, sports rehabilitation, ALS and Parkinson's disease, knee replacements and hip replacements."
Similarly, Dr. Albers believes the olfactory test could be valuable in clinical research settings across different languages and among older adults to predict neurodegenerative disease and development of clinical symptoms.
However, both research teams acknowledge that further validation studies are needed before these screening tools can be widely implemented in clinical practice. The olfactory test, in particular, requires additional research to determine how it might complement other cognitive assessments currently used for dementia and Alzheimer's diagnosis.
As the global population ages, these innovative screening approaches offer hope for earlier detection and intervention, potentially improving outcomes for millions at risk of cognitive decline.
