engleski

ALZENTIA: a non-invasive hidden-goal test for spatial orientation impairment detection in subjects with possible neurocognitive disorder

We have developed a new device that helps in early diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI, minor neurocognitive disorder) and dementia (major neurocognitive disorder, mainly caused by Alzheimer’s disease, AD). Our ALZENTIA system consists of original software and hardware, together with several other structural and non- specific elements (3-m diameter tent with 8 laser pointers, 8 displays used as orientation landmarks, camera, and stick) important for assembly of the instrument and carrying out the testing. The system is based on the hidden goal task test in which the aim is to find a target that is not visible, but instead the navigation must be based on previously memorized target position in relation to the starting position or other navigation markers. In this respect it resembles the Morris water-maze task for rodents. The testing procedure is based on the navigation of subjects with average test duration of 20 minutes, which allows for a fast and non-invasive diagnostic procedure. The system automatically calculates orientation errors and displays the results for easy subsequent interpretation. It is intended for the clinical and scientific community, pharmaceutical industry, healthcare institutions and other organizations caring for the elderly and other populations for which early detection of dementia is important, as is ongoing monitoring of their status and the success of therapeutic procedures. During the meeting, I will present preliminary results obtained in 91 healthy controls, 33 MCI patients, 8 AD patients and 4 patients with vascular dementia.

Alzheimer's disease ; early diagnosis ; hidden-goal task ; mild cognitive impairment ; screening test ; spatial orientation

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