Game Diagnoses Alzheimer's

Sea Hero Quest diagnoses Alzheimer’s in five minutes.

15:51 17 November 2016

A free mobile game called Sea Horse Quest diagnoses Alzheimer’s in five minutes. Developed by British scientists, the game involves sailing a boat around mazes and misty seas in a fictional world to assess the users’ navigation and spatial awareness, which is among the first to go when one develops dementia. 

 

Neuroscientist Dr Hugo Spiers said: 'This is the only study of its kind, on this scale, to date. Its accuracy greatly exceeds that of all previous research in this area.'

 

'The findings the game is yielding have enormous potential to support vital developments in dementia research.

 

'The ability to diagnose dementia at early stages, well before patients exhibit any signs of general memory loss, would be a milestone.

 

'This study is thus now giving us the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of millions of people living with dementia and those at risk of developing the disease in the future.'

 

The team now plans to trial the app in 100 Alzheimer’s patients to confirm that it can be used as a diagnostic tool. It will test the participants’ basic navigational wayfinding; recognising landmarks; navigating complex situations involving several options; sense of direction; and response and rote learning.