{"id":4750,"date":"2023-07-16T23:02:24","date_gmt":"2023-07-16T23:02:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/?p=4750"},"modified":"2023-07-16T23:02:25","modified_gmt":"2023-07-16T23:02:25","slug":"can-this-fastball-test-lead-to-early-diagnosis-of-alzheimers-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/?p=4750","title":{"rendered":"Can This &#8216;Fastball&#8217; Test Lead to Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer&#8217;s Disease?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20370%20247'%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/post.healthline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/older-male-home-nurse-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=2268\" alt=\"A man is helped by a female healthcare worker.\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/post.healthline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/older-male-home-nurse-1296x728-header-1296x729.jpg?w=1155&amp;h=2268\" alt=\"A man is helped by a female healthcare worker.\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Early detection is crucial in order to treat and prevent any disease. For&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/alzheimers-disease\">Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/a>, researchers are continuing to explore new avenues for early diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The universities of Bath and Bristol were awarded \u00a31.5 million \/ $1.9 million funding for a new test to help with the early detection for Alzheimer\u2019s disease and dementia. The dementia assessment is called \u2018Fastball EEG.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018Fastball\u2019 examines patients\u2019 brain waves using an electroencephalogram (EEG) headset. Prior&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/brain\/article\/144\/9\/2812\/6372384?login=false\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">studies<\/a>&nbsp;have demonstrated the effectiveness of Fastball when it comes to detecting changes in brain waves during memory recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unlike current&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health-news\/this-simple-memory-test-may-predict-your-dementia-risk\">diagnostic tests&nbsp;<\/a>which involve personal questions to test an individual\u2019s memory, Fastball doesn\u2019t require the person to understand the test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFastball is a unique test because it doesn\u2019t require the patient to understand the test or provide any response. This helps us to bypass a lot of the confounds that can affect performance on a traditional test. Things like education, language and nervousness can affect anyone\u2019s performance on a test, and Fastball\u2019s passive nature helps bypass that,\u201d\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/researchportal.bath.ac.uk\/en\/persons\/george-stothart\" target=\"_blank\">Dr. George Stothart,\u00a0<\/a>lead author and a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Bath, told Healthline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-black-color\">Why this test could be a \u201cgame changer\u201d<\/mark><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over the next five years, the team will test Fastball on more than 1,000 patients at a dementia clinic at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This will be the largest&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bristol.ac.uk\/news\/2023\/july\/fastball-study.html.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">study<\/a>&nbsp;to use EEG to test for Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe have the proof-of-principle that Fastball works, next we\u2019re moving it from the laboratory to a clinic that specializes in dementia diagnosis. This will help us understand how Fastball works at scale, and how to improve it, and how best to make it available to the NHS and other healthcare systems,\u201d Stothart added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nyulangone.org\/doctors\/1962798892\/joel-salinas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Joel Salinas<\/a>, Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology at NYU Langone Health and Chief Medical Officer at Isaac Health, an online memory center, explained this research is compelling in a few ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Firstly, the use of a completely non-invasive, passive test like Fastball could be a game changer in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer\u2019s, given that current methods can be highly subjective and prone to error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The concept of detecting dementia by measuring changes in brain waves as a person watches images is fascinating and has been an active area of research in the field by various investigators, each coming at this research from their own unique angle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is worth noting that while these early signs and similar physiologic markers are encouraging, much more research will be needed to validate the efficacy and reliability of this and similar diagnostic tools, Salinas noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere are several ways to corroborate a diagnosis of dementia. If this method can provide an inexpensive, quick, and painless new method then it could end up being helpful,\u201d said\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/doctors.baptisthealth.net\/provider\/Raphael+Judah+Wald\/2483754\" target=\"_blank\">Raphael Wald<\/a>, Psy.D., a neuropsychologist at Baptist Health Marcus Neuroscience Institute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-black-color\">What sets Fastball apart from other diagnostic tests<\/mark><\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dementia is often the later-to-end stage of a disease that begins several years to decades before, often silently and insidiously. As a result, dementia and diseases that cause dementia are often not diagnosed until the disease has reached an advanced stage,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.neurology.columbia.edu\/profile\/jason-w-krellman-phd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Jason Krellman<\/a>, neuropsychologist and Assistant Professor of Neuropsychology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, explained. Earlier detection could help patients and families by giving them valuable time to address modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline, make future care plans, and seek the highest quality&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/cancer\/palliative-chemotherapy\/\">palliative<\/a>&nbsp;care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf effective, a diagnostic test like Fastball EEG would allow for earlier diagnosis in a wider range of patients who might otherwise not be able to access current standard diagnostic services, such as because of cost or lack of specialists and appropriate diagnostic facilities in their area,\u201d Krellman stated. \u201cThe available data are promising, but further work is needed to fully characterize the diagnostic potential of this technology and its ability to assist in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/differential-diagnosis\/\">differential diagnosis<\/a>&nbsp;of various diseases that cause dementia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another benefit of this test is that it\u2019s portable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe technology\u2019s portability, [allows] tests to be conducted anywhere, is an important advantage to be taken into consideration for tests like this,\u201d Salinas stated. \u201cIf proven successful, it could become a powerful tool in early detection and long-term management of Alzheimer\u2019s disease.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-black-color\">Additional diagnostic tests<\/mark><\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aside from Fastball, there are other promising diagnostic tools for Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBiomarker tests that examine beta-amyloid and tau proteins in cerebrospinal fluid or through PET scans are the most direct diagnostic tools we have available,\u201d said Salinas. \u201cThe development of blood tests that can identify these biomarkers and other types of advanced imaging are also fast-evolving areas of research. These measures could potentially allow for even earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, it is important to note that while emerging technologies are promising, they are each at different stages of development, where some need much more study to confirm their accuracy and effectiveness, Salinas added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health-news\/can-this-fastball-test-lead-to-early-diagnosis-of-alzheimers-disease#Takeaway\">https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health-news\/can-this-fastball-test-lead-to-early-diagnosis-of-alzheimers-disease#Takeaway<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Early detection is crucial in order to treat and prevent any disease. For&nbsp;Alzheimer\u2019s disease, researchers are continuing to explore new avenues for early diagnosis. The universities of Bath and Bristol were awarded \u00a31.5 million \/ $1.9 million funding for a new test to help with the early detection for Alzheimer\u2019s disease and dementia. The dementia assessment is called \u2018Fastball EEG.\u2019 \u2018Fastball\u2019 examines patients\u2019 brain waves using an electroencephalogram (EEG) headset. Prior&nbsp;studies&nbsp;have demonstrated the effectiveness of Fastball when it comes to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-conditions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4750"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4750\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4751,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4750\/revisions\/4751"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}