Three Minutes, Home-Based Test May Help Identify Alzheimer's Risk Early: Study Shows
A rapid brainwave test may help detect memory problems linked to Alzheimer's disease long before a formal diagnosis, according to new research published in Brain Communications. Developed by scientists at the University of Bath, the Fastball EEG test identified early memory issues in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition that often precedes Alzheimer’s. The findings offer hope for earlier intervention with emerging Alzheimer’s treatments like donanemab and lecanemab.
Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia, affects memory, thinking, and behavior.
The Fastball test is a passive, non-invasive form of electroencephalogram (EEG) that uses small scalp sensors to record brain activity while participants watch a rapid stream of images. In the study, conducted with the University of Bristol, 54 healthy adults and 52 patients with mild cognitive impairment participated. Before the test, they were shown eight images and asked to name them—without being told to memorize them. During the test, hundreds of images flashed on screen, with every fifth one being a repeat from the initial set.
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