A three-minute brainwave test has been shown to detect memory problems linked to Alzheimer's disease long before a typical diagnosis, raising hopes that it could identify patients who would benefit most from new drugs. The Fastball test, developed at the University of Bath, uses an electroencephalogram (EEG) to record brain activity while volunteers watch a stream of images.
In a small trial involving 106 people, the test flagged specific memory issues in those with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition that greatly increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's. Participants were shown eight images to name before the test, then their brain responses were measured as hundreds of images flashed on a screen, with every fifth image being one they had seen before.
Researchers found that those with amnestic MCI had reduced brain responses compared to healthy adults and those with non-amnestic MCI. Dr George Stothart, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Bath, said: 'This shows us that our new passive measure of memory... can be sensitive to those individuals at very high risk but who are not yet diagnosed.'
The test cannot predict who will definitely develop Alzheimer's, but if larger studies confirm the findings, it could help doctors assess early risk and determine eligibility for new drugs such as donanemab and lecanemab. All tests were performed in participants' homes, which Stothart said was important for accessibility and reducing anxiety.
Experts caution that more research is needed. Professor Vladimir Litvak of UCL called it 'an early step towards developing a clinically useful test', while Dr Julia Dudley of Alzheimer's Research UK stressed the need for longer-term studies in larger, diverse groups to see if the technology can predict how memory problems unfold over time.
