New ways to measure brain diseases
The OxQUIP project is developing new, more objective ways of measuring symptoms in diseases such as Parkinson’s, in order to speed up diagnosis and the hunt for effective treatments.
Many neurodegenerative conditions involve problems with movement. Doctors typically assess people's stiffness, slowness, or tremors when they come to a neurology clinic. They note down patients' scores on a 'clinical rating scale' – a measurement which relies solely on the clinician's own impression of the person's condition.
The OxQUIP team, headed by Professor Chrystalina Antoniades, are developing objective numerical measures to help doctors accurately diagnose disease and monitor its progression. They are doing this by precisely measuring subtle abnormalities of the speed and coordination of patients' movements such as saccades (fast eye movements), hand movements and gait. They see patients every three months, and use 'wearable' sensor technology to build up a detailed picture.
Visit the University of Oxford website for more information.
