Exploratory Study on Screening Dementia Based on Frontal Polar Cognitive Activation Using Portable Wireless...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Medical Devices
• Gerontology

Background:

• Cognitive decline and dementia pose significant challenges in aging populations.
• Early screening is crucial for timely intervention and management of cognitive impairment.
• Current screening methods can be burdensome or invasive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a portable wireless functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) device for cognitive function screening in older adults.
• To assess the device's potential for identifying dementia-related changes.
• To explore a methodological framework for fNIRS-based cognitive assessment.

Main Methods:

• A portable wireless fNIRS device (Hb-13-2, Astem Co., Ltd.) was used for hemodynamic monitoring.
• Subjects (n=10 with dementia, n=10 cognitively intact, >60 years) performed the Uchida-Kraepelin (UKP) psychodiagnostic test.
• Frontal polar cortex (FPC) hemodynamic responses, specifically oxygenated hemoglobin (oxyHb), were measured during the task.

Main Results:

• Dementia subjects exhibited more pronounced oxyHb changes in the FPC (Fp1, Fp2) compared to cognitively intact subjects.
• Peak oxyHb increase occurred earlier in the task for cognitively intact individuals and later for those with dementia.
• A positive correlation was observed between oxyHb changes and UKP test results (R=0.307 for Fp1, R=0.386 for Fp2).

Conclusions:

• The pattern and timing of FPC hemodynamic responses measured by portable fNIRS during the UKP test show potential as a non-invasive screening indicator for cognitive decline.
• Portable fNIRS offers a simple and minimally burdensome approach for cognitive screening in older adults.
• This technology may aid in the early detection of dementia-related cognitive changes.