Early detection of neurodegenerative diseases could be made possible by a new ‘ear EEG’ device
PANDA, or Progression Assessment in Neurodegenerative Diseases of Aging, is a new project that aims to detect subtle sleep changes in a patient’s pattern of sleep which may indicate onset of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. This four-year collaboration involves Rigshospitalet University in Denmark, Aarhus University and MedTech company T&W Engineering. The project received DKK 15million to develop and test an earbud-like device that can detect early signs of the diseases.
Ear-EEG Technology
The ear-EEG is a long-term, comfortable alternative to traditional sleep monitoring systems, which require a patient to remain in a hospital with multiple electrodes attached. The device measures tiny voltage variations on the skin surface of the ear canal to monitor electrical activity within the brain. The device is equipped with an oxygen oximeter to measure blood oxygen levels. It also has a microphone that monitors respiration, heart rate and body temperature.
Source:
https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/new-ear-eeg-device-detect-neurodegenerative-disorders-earlier