Researchers are exploring the potential of hearables to revolutionize early detection of Alzheimer's disease by tracking subtle changes in eye movements. The innovative study, led by Miriam Boutros, investigates how in-ear devices, equipped with highly sensitive microphones, can detect alterations in eye movements that may indicate cognitive decline. This novel approach was showcased at the virtual 187th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America on November 19, 2024.
The project, titled "Towards the Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease through Eye Movement Changes Using a Hearable," aims to utilize hearables to monitor eardrum oscillations correlated with the amplitude and trajectory of saccades. Saccades, or rapid eye movements, often become shorter and less accurate in individuals with Alzheimer’s, serving as potential early indicators of the disease.
“Containing in-ear microphones, hearables capture signals with remarkable sensitivity. In fact, when the ear canal is occluded, vibrations generated by bone and tissue conduction become amplified. This means that subtle sounds from the wearer’s heartbeat to their voice, cough, breath, or even the blink of an eye can be detected.”— Miriam Boutros
Miriam Boutros, the lead researcher, emphasizes the capability of these devices to detect a wide range of physiological signals due to their unique positioning within the ear. By capturing these minute vibrations, hearables offer a promising method for tracking eye movement changes associated with cognitive impairments.
Alexander Solomon, MD, a surgical neuro-ophthalmologist and strabismus surgeon consulted on the project, highlights the importance of non-intrusive screening methods. He acknowledges the potential benefits of hearables but also notes limitations in real-world settings.
“In the real world, many things ranging from alternative diagnoses affecting eye movements to the amount of signal-to-noise ratio would limit the utility of such a device…”— Alexander Solomon
The study involves volunteers equipped with both wearables and traditional eye trackers to validate the accuracy and efficacy of hearables in monitoring eye movements. While still in its early stages, this research could pave the way for groundbreaking applications in healthcare technology.
“Alzheimer’s disease patients have saccades that are shorter, more variable and less accurate. Also, eye movements cause vibrations of the eardrum, which can be detected by the in-ear microphones of the hearables. This means that hearables are a good potential method to track eye movement changes,” explained Boutros.
Beyond Alzheimer's, Boutros and her colleagues are expanding their research to include Parkinson's disease detection. Parkinson’s patients often experience difficulties with motor control and swallowing, which could also be monitored through in-ear devices. The team is working on establishing a proof of concept for using hearables in these broader applications.
“So, eventually we’re aiming to tackle more than just Alzheimer’s. We’re actually also looking into Parkinson’s. We have another colleague that’s working on Parkinson’s disease, but all the work is at the starting phase, so we’re still now making a proof of concept,” Boutros said.
The integration of hearables into everyday environments opens new avenues for early disease detection without disrupting patients' lives. Solomon underscores the significance of such advancements in improving patient outcomes by identifying diseases at their onset.
“Anything we can do to detect the disease earlier is a boon for making sure patients are caught early on in the disease course — as treatments are developed and improve catching the disease before there are more permanent changes in cognition will likely be key.”— Alexander Solomon
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