What’s the only thing harder than treating dementia?
Detecting it early.
Unlike some health issues – like a heart attack or a bone fracture – this disease isn’t immediately apparent.
Instead, it can creep up on you slowly over years or even decades… and before you know it, you’ve lost your memories… your identity… and your independence.
New research shows there could soon be an easy way to detect the earliest sign of a specific type of dementia. And it all starts with your cellphone.
Key Takeaways
- While Alzheimer's primarily affects memory, FTD presents with personality and communication changes, making it more challenging to detect in its early stages.
- A mobile app developed by UCSF researchers successfully detected early signs of FTD, even in genetic carriers without symptoms, outperforming standard in-person tests.
- Although the clinical trial yielded promising results, the app is not yet available to the public.
FTD vs Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s – the most common form of dementia – usually causes memory loss and confusion. And that’s why most of us look for these types of symptoms when gauging the mental clarity of ourselves and loved ones.
But just because you can remember the mail carrier’s name or find your car in a parking lot of any size doesn’t mean you’re free from dementia symptoms.
Another kind of memory loss, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), is caused by damage or cell loss in the front and sides of the brain. This variety of dementia can cause behavior and communication changes and impact mobility. Unlike Alzheimer's, FTD typically shows up as personality changes and a decline in language skills such as speaking and writing.
Because of this unique symptomology, researchers set out to see if a smartphone application could help detect the early signs of FTD in folks with a genetic predisposition.
And what they found was incredible!
Detect FTD Earlier
It’s no secret that smartphone technology leads the way in medical breakthroughs.
Think about it… you know at least one person who tracks their blood sugar with a smartphone-connected glucose monitor.
Now, these devices could open doors for earlier FTD detection.
For the recent clinical trial, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) had 360 participants test the mobile app. The participants either had FTD symptoms, early signs of FTD, or were genetic carriers of the disease without symptoms.
In the end, the result showed that the app accurately detected FTD. In fact, it worked better in identifying the earliest stages of the disease than standard in-person testing!
The app works because it delivers extensive testing of the many features of FTD, according to lead researcher Adam M. Staffaroni, PhD:
“The app includes a comprehensive battery of tests that measure the diverse features of FTD, including speech and language, movement changes, behavior, and cognitive functioning. In this study, we studied tests of executive functioning, a cognitive skill often affected in FTD. We found that scores on these tests could differentiate patients with FTD from controls and were sensitive to early stages of the disease.”[1]
App Still in The Making
With results like these, I’m sure anyone with a family history of FTD would want to download the diagnostic app today.
Unfortunately, this particular app is still being tested. The recent clinical trial was the first step in testing the technology for future use in healthcare settings. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be on the lookout for FTD.
Detecting these changes early could be the key to getting better treatment in the future.
Summary
A recent study shows that a smartphone app could help detect early signs of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a form of dementia that impacts behavior, communication, and mobility. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) conducted a clinical trial with 360 participants and found that the app was more effective in identifying early FTD symptoms than traditional in-person testing. The app is still in development, but its success indicates that technology may soon play a crucial role in diagnosing dementia earlier than ever before.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is frontotemporal dementia (FTD)?
FTD is a form of dementia caused by cell loss in the front and sides of the brain, leading to changes in behavior, language skills, and mobility. - How is FTD different from Alzheimer’s disease?
Unlike Alzheimer’s, which mainly causes memory loss and confusion, FTD often presents with personality changes and declines in communication, such as speaking and writing. - How can a smartphone app help detect FTD?
The app developed by UCSF researchers tests speech, language, movement, behavior, and cognitive function to identify early signs of FTD, often better than standard in-person methods. - Is the app available for public use?
No, the app is still in the research phase and is not yet available to the public, but the clinical trial results are promising for future use in healthcare. - What should I do if I have a family history of FTD?
If you or a loved one has a family history of FTD, it's important to monitor for any early changes in personality or communication and consult a doctor for early detection and treatment.
