Alzheimer’s disease affects over 50 million people globally, profoundly impacting patients and their families. With no known cure and a slow, progressive decline, early diagnosis remains a significant challenge.
Researchers from École de Technologie Supérieure and Dartmouth University are exploring the potential of earpiece microphones to detect early indicators of Alzheimer’s. Miriam Boutros will present their findings on this innovative approach during the virtual 187th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, which runs from November 18 to 22, 2024.
As Alzheimer’s progresses, patients experience a decline in both cognitive function and motor control. One of the earliest signs of this decline can be observed in involuntary eye movements known as saccades. In individuals with Alzheimer’s, these rapid eye movements tend to be slower, less accurate, or delayed compared to those of healthy individuals.
“Eye movements are fascinating because they are among the most rapid and precise movements in the human body, relying on both motor skills and cognitive functioning,” said Arian Shamei, a researcher involved in the study.
Traditionally, detecting and analyzing saccades requires specialized eye-tracking equipment, which is not widely accessible. Boutros and her colleagues are investigating a more common and less intrusive alternative: earpiece microphones. This research is led by Rachel Bouserhal at the Research in Hearing Health and Assistive Devices (RHAD) Laboratory at École de Technologie Supérieure and Chris Niemczak at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth University.
“We are using a device called a hearable,” Boutros explained. “It is an earpiece equipped with in-ear microphones that capture physiological signals from the body. Our goal is to develop health-monitoring algorithms for hearables that enable continuous, long-term monitoring and early disease detection.”
The researchers have found that eye movements, including saccades, create vibrations in the eardrum that can be detected by sensitive microphones located within the ear. They are conducting experiments with volunteers, comparing data collected from hearables and traditional eye trackers. Their aim is to identify the signals associated with saccades and distinguish between healthy signals and those indicative of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s.
Looking ahead, the researchers hope their work will lead to noninvasive devices capable of continuous monitoring for Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases. “While our current project focuses on the long-term monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease, we eventually aim to address other conditions and differentiate between them based on symptoms tracked through in-ear signals,” said Shamei.
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