Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have developed a technique that may spot the very early signs of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), years before symptoms arise. The method involves using a simple electroencephalogram (EEG) headband while sleeping. The researchers have identified EEG signatures in ageing adults that may indicate early AD pathology. These EEG phenomena relate to memory reactivation that occurs during sleep, and may reveal aspects of early-stage AD such as amyloid positivity and cognitive decline. AD has significant consequences for those who experience it and those who support them.
Moreover, with the ageing population, levels of AD are likely to significantly increase. Identifying the disease early is difficult and many people are diagnosed when symptoms such as memory loss have already manifested. However, this new method may alert patients and clinicians to an increased risk of the disease, potentially allowing them to take steps to slow progression. A study was recently published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.13420