Detecting dementia using Fastball neurocognitive assessment v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Detecting dementia using Fastball neurocognitive assessment
IRAS ID
330535
Contact name
George Stothart
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bath
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Dementia is currently diagnosed too late, up to 20 years after the disease has begun. Quicker, more accurate ways to detect dementia are greatly needed so patients can get treatments earlier and plan for their future. Our aim is to improve early detection using a new way of measuring brain function in the early stages of dementia.
Pen and paper tests are used to help detect dementia, but they have many problems. They cannot detect the earliest signs of dementia or tell different forms of dementia apart. Additionally anxiety, language and educational ability can affect peoples’ scores. Electroencephalography (EEG) measures brain activity using cheap, easy to use
headsets. We have developed a technique called Fastball that involves showing a person some pictures to remember, and then showing the pictures to them at a very fast rate, mixed up amongst pictures they have not seen. Using EEG we can see brain waves from areas of the brain that recognise images, to show whether the person remembers the pictures or not.We have already shown that Fastball can detect the early stages of dementia, and it works whatever language the person speaks, how educated or nervous they are. We plan to use Fastball in a dementia clinic at Southmead Hospital, Bristol. Everyone who attends the clinic will have a chance to try the Fastball test, as well as their usual tests and care. We will use the data to see if we can detect dementia earlier and more accurately than pen and paper tests. We will also try Fastball in two GP surgeries to learn how and where we could use Fastball in the NHS.
REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
23/WA/0315
Date of REC Opinion
8 Nov 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion