Diagnosing Early-Stage Alzheimer’s Disease: Gait Analysis using Virtual Reality

2023-10-15 03:23:51

▲ Research results have shown that patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease have difficulty turning their bodies when walking. (Photo = DB)

[메디컬투데이=조민규 기자] Patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease were found to have difficulty turning their bodies when walking.

A study was published in ‘Current Biology’ showing that early-stage Alzheimer’s disease patients have difficulty turning their body when walking, and that this can be used to diagnose early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common degenerative brain disease that causes dementia and mainly shows deterioration of cognitive function. A cure for Alzheimer’s disease has not yet been discovered, and early diagnosis is known to be important to slow its progression. Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is made through brain imaging analysis or blood tests, and non-invasive methods for early diagnosis are being studied.

Researchers at University College London used virtual reality to analyze the gait of Alzheimer’s patients.

The researchers analyzed 31 healthy young participants, 36 healthy older participants, and 43 participants with mild cognitive impairment. The researchers had participants wear virtual reality goggles and walk a pre-designed route. The researchers had participants repeat this in three different environments.

The results of the study showed that participants with mild cognitive impairment who showed biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease consistently overestimated the turns of their walking path and had increased variability in their sense of direction. These results were not seen in other participants.

The researchers concluded that rotation errors occur only in patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease and that this can be used as a basis for diagnosing early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

Medical Today Reporter Jo Min-gyu (awe0906@mdtoday.co.kr)

[저작권자ⓒ 메디컬투데이. 무단전재-재배포 금지]

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