Although many new tools are being developed to detect early onset of Parkinson’s disease, many people, older adults in particular, already have crossed that barrier and are dealing with managing the disease.
One promising tool that can aid those who already have Parkinson’s is a new artificial intelligence test that can assess symptoms within minutes.
The test involves having users tap their fingers 10 times in front of a webcam; the AI tool, which was created by researchers at the University of Rochester, then assesses the person’s motor performance and ties that to a Parkinson’s rating scale.
The number of people living with Parkinson’s continues to grow, with current estimates of the disease being diagnosed in 1.2 million Americans. Of that group, approximately a fourth live in long-term care facilities.
In the AI study, the finger-tapping model performed better than primary care physicians at assessing the disease, although it was bested by three neurologists who participated in the study. Nevertheless, the study authors touted the research as a breakthrough, particularly for patients who don’t have access to expert, neurosurgical analysis.
In addition, the methods used could be extended for tools to diagnose other diseases such as ataxia and Huntington’s, the researchers suggest.
“It’s an example of how AI is being gradually introduced into healthcare to serve people outside of the clinic and improve health equity and access,” Ehsan Hoque, study author and associate professor in the University of Rochester’s Department of Computer Science, said in a statement about the technology.
Other new digital tech aimed at diagnosing Parkinson’s with greater specificity include an AI tool from researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and UCL Queen Square, both in London, that relies on analyzing stem cell images. People with Parkinson’s in general could benefit from digital health platforms and information about needs, including nutrition, experts believe.
