Ear-EEG is a gentle technology that can measure the electrical activity of the brain and map our sleep patterns. Research shows that early signs of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's can be found in a person's sleep patterns.
Newswise —
Rigshospitalet and Aarhus University have collaborated with T&W Engineering, a Danish health technology firm, and secured DKK 15 million in financial support from Innovation Fund Denmark for their potentially groundbreaking initiative aimed at aiding individuals with severe brain conditions.
The initiative aims to create and evaluate an ear-EEG gadget that resembles a set of in-ear earphones. The custom-built measuring tool will undergo testing on groups of patients, including those with and without Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The objective is to investigate whether the technology can be utilized to conduct screenings for these two severe brain ailments.
The ear-EEG innovation records the electrical activity in the brain and maps sleep patterns in a non-invasive manner. Current research indicates that a person's sleep patterns can reveal early indications of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
According to Professor Preben Kidmose, who leads the Center for Ear-EEG at Aarhus University, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are conditions that gradually develop over many years. Typically, patients only receive a diagnosis once they start experiencing cognitive and memory-related issues, sleep disruptions, or musculoskeletal system problems. By that time, treatment options are limited to symptom management. However, the project aims to identify indications of these two ailments 10-15 years before the initial symptoms manifest. If successful, this could lead to far better treatment options for patients.
Severe brain diseases have a significant impact on patients and their families, and they also represent a growing financial burden for the healthcare sector worldwide, including Denmark. As per the Danish Dementia Research Centre, there are around 12,000 Parkinson's patients and over 100,000 people living with dementia in Denmark. The Alzheimer's Association reports that only 40% of women and 60% of men with dementia in Denmark have received a diagnosis, highlighting the need for improved detection methods.
Ear-EGG – the sleep monitoring of the future?
The ear-EEG device is inserted into the ear to detect electrical activity in the brain. The technique records minute voltage fluctuations on the skin's surface caused by the neurons' electrical activity in the brain. It is a less invasive and more comfortable method than conventional sleep monitoring techniques.
The PANDA-project's gadget is additionally furnished with an oximeter that gauges the oxygen levels in the blood, a thermometer, and a microphone that can detect breathing and heartbeat sounds, similar to a stethoscope.
Professor Poul Jørgen Jennum, who leads the Danish Centre Sleep Medicine at Rigshospitalet, hopes that the ear-EEG technology can partly replace the current sleep monitoring methods, which can be cumbersome. The objective is to make the technology user-friendly so that patients can use it comfortably at home for an extended period. Ideally, individuals could monitor their sleep patterns over several days, weeks, or months every year to identify any changes that could be early signs of severe brain diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. This would enable earlier and easier diagnoses, providing a significant advantage for patients.
An additional advantage of the ear-EEG technology is that it allows for the examination of patients in their daily lives, tracking changes in sleep patterns and the efficacy of treatments. This makes the technology an excellent screening tool that can be comfortably used at home, similar to a blood pressure monitor.
We must get the technology into patients’ homes
T&W Engineering is drawn to the prospect of developing home health care technology. The company specializes in creating portable health technologies that provide a precise overview of patients' health, allowing for more efficient and effective care, ideally in the comfort of their own homes. CEO Richard Tøpholm emphasizes the company's commitment to this field of expertise.
Richard Tøpholm emphasizes that T&W Engineering's goal is to support the development of a patient-centric and data-driven healthcare system, with technological solutions that allow patients to receive care in their own homes rather than hospitals. Dementia is a significant issue that has proved difficult to address, with current methods being unsuitable for frequent and scalable measurements to monitor disease progression. Tøpholm believes that developing solutions that enable patients to participate in their care at home can lead to better health profiles and earlier diagnosis, thereby making a significant difference in the lives of patients and their families.
Facts about the project
The project is called PANDA, which stands for "Progression Assessment in Neurodegenerative Disorders of Ageing". It will run for four years, and it is being funded by Innovation Fund Denmark with DKK 15 million. The total project budget is DKK 26 million. Rigshospitalet’s role in the project is to perform clinical tests and collect data. T&W Engineering is responsible for integrating the various sensors into the ear-borne apparatus. Aarhus University is responsible for developing the biomarker algorithms, and T&W Engineering will develop the diagnostic support system used by clinicians.
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