Simple tool could detect Parkinson's disease early — it was 96% accurate in experiments
This pen truly is mightier than the sword.
A team of researchers at UCLA has developed a high-tech diagnostic pen that can detect signs of Parkinson's disease with over 96% accuracy, offering a low-cost way to identify the neurodegenerative disorder far earlier than now.
A pilot study in the journal Nature Chemical Engineering unveiled the device, which looks much like a regular pen.
3 A patient with PD using the diagnostic pen for a writing task.
Nature Chemical Engineering
It's able pick up on subtle motor dysfunctions before they're visible to the naked eye, all by analyzing how people write.
So, how does this futuristic fountain pen work?
The tip is made of a flexible silicone material infused with magnetic particles, and it writes using a special ferrofluid ink that contains nanomagnets.
As someone writes, pressure from the hand deforms the tip, causing changes in magnetic fields that produce electrical signals — like a Morse code of motor function.
Those signals are then analyzed to detect the difference between healthy and Parkinson's-affected motor patterns.
In tests with 16 participants — including 3 with Parkinson's — the system nailed the diagnosis with 96.22% accuracy.
Even more impressive? The pen worked whether people wrote on paper or in the air, meaning it doesn't even require a surface.
3
Nature Chemical Engineering
Today, Parkinson's is largely diagnosed based on observations, which are subjective, or by biomarker-based imaging, which can be expensive.
This diagnostic pen is portable, inexpensive and doesn't rely on a neurologist to interpret results, making it a promising option for remote screenings, home use or even telehealth checkups.
'Our development of the diagnostic pen represents a low-cost, widely disseminable and reliable technology with the potential to improve PD diagnostics across large populations and resource-limited areas,' the researchers wrote.
With further validation in a larger population, the device could be used not just for early diagnosis, but for ongoing symptom tracking and personalized treatment monitoring.
3 Today, Parkinson's is largely diagnosed based on observations, which are subjective, or by biomarker-based imaging, which can be expensive.
highwaystarz – stock.adobe.com
This is just the latest innovation aimed at tackling Parkinson's disease, which affects more than 10 million people worldwide and has no known cure.
A recent study found that psilocybin — the psychedelic compound that gave 'magic mushrooms' their trippy reputation in the 1960s — showed serious promise for improving mood and motor function in people with Parkinson's disease.
Tavapadon — a new drug that mimics dopamine by targeting certain receptors — has also shown promise in clinical trials by reducing motor fluctuations and maintaining symptom control with fewer side effects than traditional therapies.
Produodopa — a continuous infusion therapy first administered in the UK — was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration last fall.
Innovative approaches targeting the psychological aspects of the disease have been successful as well — with tandem cycling proving to be especially popular.
Some New Yorkers even find relief by playing pingpong.
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