The study of eye movements, particularly saccades, has shown promise in predicting dementia risk, although it is not yet widely implemented in clinical practice.

Future aspirations for this technology include its application in monitoring other neurological diseases, enhancing the differentiation of symptoms through in-ear signals.

Alzheimer's disease currently affects over 50 million people worldwide, causing immense distress for patients and their families, and there is no cure available.

In the United States alone, approximately 6.7 million individuals live with Alzheimer's, with projections suggesting this number could rise to 13 million by 2050, underscoring the urgent need for early detection tools.

While there is no cure for Alzheimer's, early interventions can delay the onset of severe symptoms, highlighting the importance of accessible diagnostic methods.

Researchers are exploring the potential of earpiece microphones, or 'hearables', to detect early signs of Alzheimer's disease by monitoring changes in eye movements, specifically saccades.

The study, led by Rachel Bouserhal from École de Technologie Supérieure and Chris Niemczak from Dartmouth College, aims to test this innovative method on 35 Alzheimer's patients.

To enhance the research, the study will also include 35 healthy controls, allowing for a comparative analysis of the hearable technology's effectiveness.

However, early diagnosis remains challenging due to the disease's gradual progression and the absence of clear indicators.

Eye movements are closely linked to motor skills and cognitive function, making them a compelling target for early diagnosis, according to researcher Arian Shamei.

Traditional eye-tracking methods are often expensive and cumbersome, which has led researchers to investigate the use of hearables as a noninvasive alternative for long-term monitoring.

Ultimately, the findings from this study are expected to contribute to the development of a wearable diagnostic tool for Alzheimer's disease.