The new method can detect signs of Alzheimer's disease years in advance.

British researchers have recently developed a simple electroencephalogram (EEG) test called "Swiftball" that can detect early signs of memory impairment years before clinical symptoms of Alzheimer's disease appear, enabling earlier diagnosis and intervention. Researchers at the University of Bath and the University of Bristol in the UK published a paper in the journal "Brain Communications" introducing this test, which records brain electrical activity while subjects view a series of images to identify early memory problems in individuals with mild cognitive impairment. Mild cognitive impairment is considered an important precursor for some patients to develop Alzheimer's disease in the future. Unlike traditional methods, this test is a passive EEG test lasting about 3 minutes, where subjects do not need to follow instructions or recall information, but rely on monitoring automatic brain responses to assess cognitive function. This design makes the test more objective and user-friendly, providing assistance to those who cannot obtain a diagnosis in clinical conditions for various reasons.