Scientists may be able to detect Alzheimer’s by listening for the disease

Researchers from Dartmouth University and the École de Technologie Supérieure, a Canadian university in Quebec, have produced a device called Hearable, which they hope will be able to track patients' eye movements through tiny vibrations in the ear drum produced by movement during saccades – which are quick shifts used when looking around, due to a loss in brain tissue.

A current method used to measure the disease’s risk is an eye exam that studies the changes in a person’s retina, but doctors can only detect this eye movement using expensive eye equipment that is not accessible worldwide.

However, the scientists believe using the device to identify unique sound patterns can help diagnose the condition early and at a cheaper rate.

As there is no known cure for the disease, early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is essential to slowing its effects on an individual.

The team are hoping the tool can be more accessible so it can be used for early diagnosis.