Study results recently published in Alzheimers & & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimers Association recognize a relationship in between EEG readings and levels of specific molecular modifications indicative of pre-symptomatic Alzheimers disease. Extra findings further show that early stages of mild cognitive disability due to Alzheimers illness can be discovered in the EEG signals.
Scientist Brice McConnell talks about and shows how to use the wearable device his associates investigated in determining biomarkers a sign of early indications of dementia. Credit: The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
” This digital biomarker essentially allows any basic EEG headband gadget to be utilized as a fitness tracker for brain health,” says Brice McConnell, MD, PhD, assistant professor of neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and research study senior author. “Demonstrating how we can examine digital biomarkers for early indications of illness utilizing scalable and accessible headband gadgets in a home setting is a big advancement in mitigating and catching Alzheimers illness at the earliest phases.”
In the biggest research study of its kind to date, scientists evaluated data from 205 aging adults, recognizing measurable issues with memory reactivation in association with levels of proteins such as amyloid and tau that develop up in Alzheimers Disease.
” What we discovered is these irregular levels of proteins relate to sleep memory reactivations, which we might determine in peoples brainwave patterns before they experienced any signs,” states McConnell. “Identifying these early biomarkers for Alzheimers illness in asymptomatic adults can help patients establish preventative or mitigation strategies before the illness advances.”
Scientists say this is an interesting step towards using wearables as digital biomarkers for disease detection. “We are just scratching the surface area with this work, leading the way for economical and user friendly gadgets to keep an eye on brain health,” states McConnell. “This is proof of principle that brain waves throughout sleep can be turned into a digital biomarker, and our next actions involve refining the process.”
Recommendation: “Mapping sleeps oscillatory occasions as a biomarker of Alzheimers disease” by Rachelle L. Pulver, Eugene Kronberg, Lindsey M. Medenblik, Vitaly O. Kheyfets, Alberto R. Ramos, David M. Holtzman, John C. Morris, Cristina D. Toedebusch, Stefan H Sillau, Brianne M. Bettcher, Brendan P. Lucey and Brice V. McConnell, 23 August 2023, Alzheimers & & Dementia.DOI: 10.1002/ alz.13420.
Researchers have established a digital biomarker utilizing EEG headbands to spot early brain activity connected with pre-symptomatic Alzheimers. The study discovered a correlation between EEG readings, molecular modifications, and early phases of Alzheimers, recommending wearable devices might keep track of brain health.
In the largest study of its kind, CU Anschutz scientists are advancing the advancement of a digital biomarker. This marker, recognized through a wearable headband used during the night, can spot early indicators of Alzheimers disease from brainwave patterns.
Researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Washington University in St. Louis have actually discovered an approach to assess brain activity throughout sleep, linked to the initial phases of Alzheimers illness, typically manifesting long before dementia signs appear.
This digital biomarker utilizes EEG innovation, captured using simple headband devices, to identify brain wave patterns related to memory reactivation throughout deep sleep, a vital part of the memory processing system.
Scientists state this is an exciting action towards utilizing wearables as digital biomarkers for disease detection. “We are simply scratching the surface with this work, paving the way for easy-to-use and budget friendly gadgets to monitor brain health,” states McConnell. “This is proof of principle that brain waves during sleep can be turned into a digital biomarker, and our next actions include perfecting the process.”