Alzheimer's breakthrough: Scientists might be able to 'listen' for early signs of the disease

The technology works by detecting subtle vibrations in the eardrums that occur when a person moves their eyes.

This new method could provide a more accessible alternative to current diagnostic techniques that rely on expensive eye-tracking equipment.

The findings were recently presented at a meeting of the Acoustical Society of America.

Current eye movement tests for Alzheimer's focus on what doctors call 'saccades' - rapid, jerky shifts in eye movement when looking around quickly.

People with Alzheimer's typically struggle with these movements, taking longer to shift their gaze between objects or looking in incorrect directions.

These eye movement patterns are linked to the loss of brain tissue during dementia.

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However, detecting these changes requires sophisticated eye-tracking equipment that isn't widely available.

The cost of such testing puts it out of reach for many patients.

This accessibility issue has pushed scientists to seek alternative methods for early detection of the disease.

The new "hearable" device contains highly sensitive microphones that can detect tiny vibrations within the body.

When eyes move in their sockets, they create subtle vibrations that travel through the skull to the eardrum.

These vibrations move through the external ear and activate tiny bones called ossicles, which then transmit the movement through fluid.

Though imperceptible to humans, these eye movements create distinct sound patterns in our ear canals.

By testing patients simultaneously with traditional eye-tracking and the new hearable device, researchers can identify specific sound signatures that might indicate Alzheimer's.

The team believes this could provide a more cost-effective way to screen for early signs of the disease.

The impact of Alzheimer's continues to grow, with 6.7 million Americans currently affected by the disease.

Experts predict this number could nearly double to 13 million by 2050.

The condition impacts multiple aspects of daily life, including memory, judgement, mood and decision-making abilities.

Early diagnosis is crucial, as whilst there is no cure, some treatments can help delay the worst symptoms.

PhD Candidate Arian Shamei, who worked on the study, sees broader applications for the technology: "While the current project is focused on long-term monitoring of Alzheimer's disease, eventually, we would like to tackle other diseases and be able to differentiate between them based on symptoms that can be tracked through in-ear signals."