Non-invasive digital Alzheimer's test
The NeuroMotor PenTM(NMP) is a patented platform technology that combines sensor technologies with decision support software. The interface enables users to non-invasively record and analyse parameters of minute limb and hand motion during drawing and writing movements. The overall project goal is to optimise and validate NMP for screening of dementia symptoms and differentiating between mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s/dementias.
About the project
Only around 68% of over 65s, estimated to have dementia, have been diagnosed. A large number living with the disease have not been diagnosed. It is challenging for GPs to discern whether a memory clinic referral is essential. Nevertheless, early identification can hugely increase the chance of maintaining functional abilities and defer the point of escalation, where additional care and support is required at home or in a care facility.
Triage at primary care for early appointment with the specialist will help to streamline the care pathway and ensure all patients will receive a timely diagnosis and treated/supported earlier to develop/maintain long term cognition and positive mental habits.
New screening technologies are required. It is increasingly recognised that parkinsonism, and other movement disorders such as myoclonus, paratonia and dyskinesia occur frequently in Alzheimer’s dementia. An easily performed objective test of fine motor skill could aid in the diagnosis and management of those with suspected/established dementia.
The NeuroMotor PenTM(NMP) may provide this test. NMP is a patented platform technology that combines sensor technologies with decision support software. The interface enables users to non-invasively record and analyse parameters of minute limb and hand motion during drawing and writing movements. These parameters are used as ‘digital biomarkers’ to provide objective information about decline in cognition and motor skill with higher accuracy than clinical ratings scales with electronic record keeping.
To overall project goal is to optimize and validate NMP for screening of dementia symptoms and differentiating between mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s/dementias. This will involve developing new and fine-tuning existing signal processing algorithms to record digital biomarkers and identify which biomarkers are most useful in early identification. The biomarkers will be combined with clinical rating scale data to increase the accuracy. In triage use, NMP will help pinpoint the root cause of the symptoms observed and provide crucial intelligence for decision support.
This anticipated project output will be a validated triage test in primary care that is low cost and easy to use and designed to scale