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News Early Alzheimer’s brainwave test
A simple brainwave test developed at the University of Bath has been shown to detect signs of memory impairment linked to Alzheimer’s disease, years before clinical diagnosis is typically possible. Published in the journal Brain Communications, the study by academics from the University of Bath and the University of Bristol reports that Fastball EEG, a three-minute passive test that records electrical activity in the brain while participants view a stream of images, can reliably identify memory problems in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) – a condition that can lead to Alzheimer’s. This follows the group’s previous study in 2021 that demonstrated Fastball was sensitive to memory impairment in Alzheimer’s disease. Crucially, the research team has demonstrated, for the first time, that the test can be administered in people’s homes, outside of a clinical environment. Researchers say this opens the door to wider screening and monitoring using accessible, low-cost technology. With the development of the breakthrough Alzheimer’s drugs, donanemab and lecanemab, an early diagnosis is more important than ever before. The drugs are clinically proven to be the most effective in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Despite this, in England, it is estimated that as many as 1 in 3 people do not currently have a dementia diagnosis, delaying treatments, support and research opportunities to tackle the condition. The study was led by Dr George Stothart, a cognitive neuroscientist in the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath. He said:
Beaumont Hospital’s Jaime Owen awarded AfPP Volunteer Award
Jaime Owen, Lead Theatre Practitioner at Beaumont Hospital in Bolton, part of Circle Health Group, has been awarded the Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) Volunteer Award, a £1,000 grant in memory of former AfPP member Hilda Winifred Mears. Hilda held a significant number of
“We’re missing the first 10 to 20 years of Alzheimer’s with current diagnostic tools. Fastball offers a way to change that – detecting memory decline far earlier and more objectively, using a quick and passive test.” Fastball is a passive EEG test that monitors the
brain’s automatic responses to images - without requiring participants to follow instructions or recall information. Key findings included: l Detected early memory issues in people with MCI likely to develop Alzheimer’s.
l Delivered reliable results in real-world home settings.
l Showed reduced memory responses even in patients who later progressed to dementia.
Researchers say Fastball could be scaled for use in GP surgeries, memory clinics, or at home - helping deliver earlier, more accurate diagnoses. View the findings in full at: https://academic.oup. com/braincomms/article/7/5/fcaf279/8244619
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perioperative roles both in the UK and overseas. Following her death in 2008, she left a valued legacy to AfPP, which now funds two annual Volunteer Awards, each worth £1,000, to support perioperative practitioners undertaking voluntary work overseas. The purpose of the award is to help
AfPP members share their expertise with organisations delivering care in countries where free, quality healthcare is not readily available. Jaime will be using her award to join a Hernia International mission to Sierra Leone in January 2026, working alongside a team of international surgeons and anaesthetists. The trip aims to provide surgical treatment for around 50 patients suffering from groin and abdominal hernias, conditions that can be debilitating, especially in low- and middle-income countries where access to surgical care is limited. To find out more about the AfPP’s volunteer
award and to apply, visit: https://tinyurl. com/8p2c9p55
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University of Bath
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