BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM

A simple three-minute test using brainwave technology could provide a new window into the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Developed by researchers at the University of Bath, the test picks up subtle memory problems linked to Alzheimer’s long before a traditional diagnosis is usually made.

“This shows us that our new passive measure of memory, which we’ve built specifically for Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, can be sensitive to those individuals at very high risk but who are not yet diagnosed,” explained Dr. George Stothart, cognitive neuroscientist and lead researcher.

The hope is that identifying patients earlier could ensure they benefit from emerging Alzheimer’s drugs, such as donanemab and lecanemab, which appear to work best in the disease’s earliest stages.

How the Fastball test works

The new screening tool, called the Fastball test, is a form of electroencephalogram (EEG). Small sensors placed on the scalp measure electrical activity in the brain while participants look at a rapid stream of images on a screen.

Before the test begins, participants are shown eight simple pictures of objects like a ball or a chair, and asked to name them. During the test, they watch hundreds of images flash up at lightning speed, with every fifth picture being one of those eight. Crucially, they are not asked to recall or identify the familiar images.

The brain’s automatic response reveals whether it recognizes those repeated pictures. In the recent trial, patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition that mainly affects memory for objects, showed weaker responses than healthy adults or those with non-amnestic MCI. Since people with amnestic MCI face a much higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s, this finding is significant.

Why this matters for patients

Currently, Alzheimer’s is often diagnosed late, after symptoms disrupt daily life. The Fastball test cannot predict with certainty who will develop Alzheimer’s, but it may help doctors understand which patients are at high risk earlier than ever before.

Dr. Julia Dudley of Alzheimer’s Research UK stressed the importance of this early focus: “New Alzheimer’s treatments are proving to be more effective when given at earlier stages in the disease, therefore earlier diagnosis is key for people to benefit from this.”

Designed with accessibility in mind

All of the trial tests were carried out in participants’ homes, something Stothart said is essential for accessibility and reducing anxiety. This design makes the test more practical for widespread use, especially for patients who may feel intimidated by clinical settings.

The trial, conducted with the University of Bristol, included 54 healthy adults and 52 patients with mild cognitive impairment. Results have been published in Brain Communications, and larger studies are now under way to validate the findings.

Experts call it a promising first step

While the results are encouraging, experts say more work is needed. Professor Vladimir Litvak of UCL’s Queen Square Institute of Neurology described it as “an early step towards developing a clinically useful test.” He emphasized that the next challenge is to show whether the Fastball test can track how a person’s condition changes over time and inform treatment decisions.

Dudley agreed, adding that longer-term studies in larger and more diverse groups are essential. She also noted that memory problems can stem from many health conditions, not just dementia. Future research will need to clarify how brainwave testing works alongside other tools like cognitive assessments and blood tests.

Looking ahead

Alzheimer’s currently affects more than 55 million people worldwide, and finding ways to diagnose it earlier is a pressing priority. While the Fastball test is not a crystal ball, it offers an accessible, non-invasive glimpse into brain function that could one day help patients access life-extending treatments sooner.

As Stothart and his team push forward, the work underscores a hopeful message: innovation in early detection may give families more time, more choices, and more hope in the face of Alzheimer’s disease.

Source study: Brain Communications—A passive and objective measure of recognition memory in mild cognitive impairment using Fastball memory assessment