Scientists reveal a simple memory and logic test could be used to spot dementia nearly a decade before visible symptoms pop up. Dr. Timothy Rittman, of the University of Cambridge, who oversaw the study, believes the findings could be used to create a 30-minute test to identify people with a high risk of developing Alzheimer’s. They could be then enrolled in clinical trials or given treatments before they began to show symptoms.
People who went on to develop conditions such as Alzheimer’s were found to perform less well at tasks that measured problem-solving, reaction times and the ability to recall a sequence of numbers. Around 900,000 people in the UK have dementia and the number is expected to rise as the population ages. The latest study drew on information on about 500,000 people aged 40-69 who had taken part in the UK Biobank project. They took part in a battery of tests, which were used to gauge problem-solving ability, memory, reaction times and grip strength.
The tests included a “snap” game, where people have to react when a pair of cards match. Another involved a simple problem that requires logic and reasoning. Participants had to solve as many as they could in two minutes. Dr. Nol Swaddiwudhipong, of the University of Cambridge, who led the study, said, “When we looked back at patients’ histories, it became clear that they were showing some cognitive impairment several years before their symptoms became obvious enough to prompt a diagnosis. The impairments were often subtle, but [they were seen] across a number of aspects of cognition.”
They added, “This is a step towards us being able to screen people who are at greatest risk — for example, people over 50 or those who have high blood pressure or do not do enough exercise — and intervene at an earlier stage to help them reduce their risk.”
