Digital test helps detect Alzheimer’s disease at an early stage

Millions of people around the world face memory problems, but doctors are not always able to immediately determine whether this is due to Alzheimer’s disease or other conditions. In ordinary clinics, there is often not enough time and resources to figure out the causes in one appointment. This is where the new BioCog digital test, created at Lund University (Sweden), comes to the rescue.

The main feature of this development is that a person can take the test on their own, without constant medical supervision. A tablet is enough, on which the program checks memory, attention, information processing speed, and even how quickly a person reacts to prompts. This approach provides a more complete picture than the usual paper tests.

The creators note that BioCog does not diagnose directly. His task is to show if the patient has cognitive impairments that require further testing. If the test indicates problems, the next step is a blood test that can accurately detect changes in the brain characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease.

It is also important that such a test is convenient for primary care physicians. After all, most people do not go to specialized memory centers first, but to local clinics. BioCog helps doctors decide who really needs a referral for expensive tests, and who should look for other causes of deterioration, such as stress or depression.

According to the developers, the value of the new technology lies in its accuracy and accessibility. Unlike traditional methods, the digital test can record not only correct or incorrect answers, but also reaction speed, word search time, and other subtle indicators. All this seriously increases the chance of noticing the onset of dementia even before it manifests itself in the patient’s actions.