People with Alzheimer’s experience a decline in both cognitive abilities and motor control, with one of the initial indicators being involuntary eye movements called saccades. In individuals with Alzheimer’s, these rapid eye movements are typically slower, less accurate, or delayed compared to those in healthy individuals. Researchers are looking into a different approach utilizing a common and less invasive technology: earpiece microphones.
Alzheimer’s disease impacts over 50 million people globally, causing significant distress for those affected and their families. There is currently no cure, making early detection challenging due to the disease’s gradual progression.
Researchers from École de Technologie Supérieure and Dartmouth University are studying how earpiece microphones can help identify the early signs of Alzheimer’s. Miriam Boutros will share their findings on Tuesday, Nov. 19, during the virtual 187th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, taking place from Nov. 18-22, 2024.
Individuals with Alzheimer’s suffer from a decline in motor skills alongside cognitive impairment. One of the initial indicators of this decline can be seen in involuntary eye movements known as saccades, which are often slower, less precise, or delayed in Alzheimer’s patients compared to those with normal cognitive function.
“Eye movements offer intriguing insights as they are among the swiftest and most accurate actions in the human body, relying on both refined motor skills and cognitive processes,” researcher Arian Shamei noted.
To monitor and analyze saccades directly, a patient typically needs specialized eye-tracking technology, which isn’t readily available to everyone. Therefore, Boutros and her team are investigating the use of a more accessible, less intrusive tool: earpiece microphones. This research is directed 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.
“We are utilizing a device known as a ‘hearable,'” Boutros explained. “It is an earpiece equipped with in-ear microphones that detect physiological signals from the body. Our objective is to create health-monitoring algorithms for hearables that enable continuous, long-term monitoring and early detection of diseases.”
Saccades prompt vibrations in the eardrum, which sensitive microphones within the ear can capture. The research team is conducting experiments with volunteers, equipping them with both hearable devices and traditional eye trackers. Their aim is to identify signals linked to saccades and distinguish between normal signals and those indicating neurological issues such as Alzheimer’s.
The researchers aspire that their studies will eventually lead to devices capable of non-invasively and continuously monitoring Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders.
“Currently, our project is concentrated on the long-term observation of Alzheimer’s disease; however, we eventually aim to address other conditions and differentiate among them by tracking symptoms visible through in-ear signals,” Shamei stated.
