Fastball test results show reliable detection of mild cognitive impairment
A study published in Brain Communications has shown that the Fastball test can be used at home to reliably detect memory decline in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).
Fastball is an EEG test that measures a person’s brainwaves. It involves the participant having a cap placed on their head and watching images on a tablet. Testing takes around 2-3 minutes to complete and is non-invasive.
The trial in the study was run with the University of Bristol and involved 54 healthy adults and 52 patients with MCI. Trials in larger groups are now underway, with the hope that this test could one day become available on the NHS.
Dr George Stothart, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Bath and developer of Fastball, says:
“We’re missing the first 10 to 20 years of Alzheimer’s with current diagnostic tools. Fastball offers a way to change that – detecting memory decline far earlier and more objectively, using a quick and passive test. There’s an urgent need for accurate, practical tools to diagnose Alzheimer’s at scale. Fastball is cheap, portable, and works in real-world settings.”
Chris Williams, CEO of BRACE Dementia Research who are funding Dr Stothart’s work, says:
“Fastball is an incredible tool that could offer anyone who, for whatever reason, cannot access a dementia diagnosis in a clinical setting.
BRACE has been supporting the development of Fastball for several years, and we are excited to see what Dr Stothart’s team will achieve over the next few years with ongoing support from the charity.”
Read the study here: https://academic.oup.com/braincomms/article/7/5/fcaf279/8244619?login=false
Find out more about Fastball here: https://www.alzheimers-brace.org/?s=fastball