Smartphone app can diagnose Parkinson’s
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.028238
BBC : Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. Yet it remains difficult to diagnose in its early stages. Now researchers led by Max Little of Aston University in the UK have developed a smartphone app that uses the phone’s microphone and accelerometer to monitor the user for characteristic symptoms, such as the “freezing of gait” and certain voice changes. With the use of software, the researchers can also perform more complex analyses of behavior, including how often the user leaves the house and how much he or she interacts with others, all of which can be early signs of the disease. Little plans to continue refining the technology through extensive clinical trials and hopes to extend it to other disorders.
