Canadian scientists have developed a new device capable of detecting Alzheimer's disease at an early stage by listening to highly sensitive vibrations emitted from the ear. Researchers believe that these early signals coming from the ear may serve as an important indicator of the disease.
According to a report published in the British Daily Mail, which was reviewed by Al Arabiya.net, the groundbreaking discovery was made by a team of researchers from Dartmouth College and the École de Technologie Supérieure, a Canadian university in Quebec.
The device works by detecting small vibrations in the eardrum caused by rapid eye movements. The scientists hope their device, called "Hearable," will be able to track a person's eye movements through these vibrations.
In the past, researchers found that one method of assessing the risk of Alzheimer's is by examining the eyes. They look for specific changes in the retina, the part of the eye that detects light and converts it into signals for the brain to interpret.
Doctors also look for changes in something called "rapid eye movements," which are quick, jerky shifts made when someone is scanning their environment. People with Alzheimer's tend to struggle with completing these types of eye movements. They may take longer to shift their gaze from one object to another or sometimes look in entirely the wrong direction.
While doctors are uncertain about the cause of these changes, they are likely related to the loss of brain tissue associated with dementia.
Typically, to detect changes in eye patterns, doctors use expensive equipment to track eye movements, making these tools not widely available or affordable for all patients.
The new device developed in Canada, which explores the disease through the ear, is significantly cheaper and more cost-effective than eye examinations. By using this device, researchers can identify unique sound patterns that may help diagnose Alzheimer's early at a low cost.
Currently, about 6.7 million Americans live with Alzheimer's, and the Alzheimer's Association expects this number to continue rising, potentially reaching around 13 million by 2050.
Dementia affects memory, judgment, mood, orientation, decision-making, and the ability to complete tasks, among many other things.
Because the symptoms of the disease are often widespread and subtle in the early stages, it is frequently undiagnosed until later, leading to missed opportunities for crucial treatments.
Although no treatments currently exist that can reverse the disease, some early interventions seem to help people delay some of the worst symptoms of the condition, making early diagnosis incredibly important.
