Simple tool could detect Parkinsons disease early it was 96% accurate in experiments

This pen truly is mightier than the sword.A team of researchers at UCLA has developed a high-tech diagnostic pen that can detect signs of Parkinson’s disease with over 96% accuracy, offering a low-cost way to identify the neurodegenerative disorder far earlier than now.A pilot study in the journal Nature Chemical Engineering unveiled the device, which looks much like a regular pen.

It’s able pick up on subtle motor dysfunctions before they’re visible to the naked eye, all by analyzing how people write.So, how does this futuristic fountain pen work?The tip is made of a flexible silicone material infused with magnetic particles, and it writes using a special ferrofluid ink that contains nanomagnets.As someone writes, pressure from the hand deforms the tip, causing changes in magnetic fields that produce electrical signals — like a Morse code of motor function.Those signals are then analyzed to detect the difference between healthy and Parkinson’s-affected motor patterns.In tests with 16 participants — including 3 with Parkinson’s — the system nailed the diagnosis with 96.22% accuracy.Even more impressive? The pen worked whether people wrote on paper or in the air, meaning it doesn’t even require a surface.Today, Parkinson’s is largely diagnosed based on observations, which are subjective, or by biomarker-based imaging, which can be expensive.

This diagnostic pen is portable, inexpensive and doesn’t rely on a neurologist to interpret results, making it a promising option for remote screenings, home use or even telehealth checkups.“Our development of the diagnostic pen represents a low-cost, widely disseminable and reliable technology with the potential to improve PD diagnostics across large populations and resource-limited areas,” the researchers wrote.With further validation in a larger population, the device could be used not just for early diagnosis, but for ongoing symptom tracking and personalized treatment monitoring.This is just the l...