Worldwide, Alzheimer’s disease wreaks havoc on over 50 million people, and its repercussions can be felt deeply by both the patients and their families. With no existing cure and the disease’s gradual progression, early detection remains a challenge. However, a collaborative research effort between École de Technologie Supérieure and Dartmouth University is exploring a novel approach to spot early symptoms of Alzheimer’s using earpiece microphones.
The research, which will be presented by Miriam Boutros at the upcoming 187th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, focuses on a common symptom seen in Alzheimer’s patients known as saccades. These are involuntary eye movements that become slower, less precise, or delayed in individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s. Arian Shamei, a researcher, highlights the significance of eye movements, calling them some of the most rapid and precise movements in the human body that rely on both motor skills and cognitive functioning.
However, the challenge lies in detecting and analyzing saccades as it involves the use of eye-tracking equipment, which is not readily available to the majority. Thus, Boutros and her team are looking for an alternative solution, one that relies on a more common and less intrusive technology: earpiece microphones. This research is spearheaded 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.
Boutros explains that they are developing health-monitoring algorithms for ‘hearables’ (earpieces with in-ear microphones that capture physiological signals from the body), with the aim of facilitating continuous, long-term monitoring and early disease detection.
The idea is to track eye movements like saccades that cause eardrum vibrations, which can be detected by the sensitive microphones in the ear. The researchers are conducting experiments with volunteers equipped with both hearables and conventional eye trackers, with the goal to identify signals that correspond to saccades and distinguish between healthy signals and those indicating neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s.
The team is optimistic that their research will eventually contribute to the creation of devices capable of non-invasive continuous monitoring for Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases. Shamei expresses that while their current focus is on Alzheimer’s, they aim to eventually address other diseases and differentiate them based on in-ear signal tracking.
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