Eye movements, known as saccades, are essential for interacting with our environment. These rapid and almost imperceptible visual adjustments change subtly in individuals with Alzheimer's. Their slowness and imprecision could become key indicators for early diagnosis.
This discovery is based on a surprising observation: each eye movement generates microscopic vibrations in the eardrum. Captured by microphones integrated into earbuds, these vibrations reveal signals that are invisible to the naked eye but rich with neurological information.
Currently, detecting these anomalies requires expensive eye-tracking equipment. The team from the École de technologie supérieure (Canada) and Dartmouth College (United States) is proposing a much more accessible alternative: smart earbuds. By discreetly monitoring intra-aural auditory signals, they promise a non-invasive diagnostic method.
Preliminary tests combine these earbuds with traditional eye-analysis systems. The goal? To precisely identify signals reflecting cognitive disorders, such as those associated with Alzheimer's, and validate their reliability through a study involving volunteers.
This advancement opens up unprecedented possibilities. Eventually, the earbuds could integrate algorithms capable of distinguishing various neurological diseases. Researchers also aim to adapt this technology to monitor other pathologies.
The accessibility of this innovation lies at the heart of the project. By incorporating this system into everyday items, such as wireless earbuds, early diagnoses could become both convenient and democratized, narrowing the gap between technological screening and medical care.
Beyond Alzheimer's, researchers envision a future where these intra-aural sensors could detect a wide range of disorders. Continuous and non-intrusive monitoring could thus transform the approach to chronic diseases.
This work, presented at the 187th meeting of the
Acoustical Society of America, represents a promising breakthrough. It underscores the importance of combining technological innovation with public health needs to tackle tomorrow's medical challenges.
Article author: Cédric DEPOND