Researchers are exploring the use of “hearables”—earpiece microphones—to detect early signs of Alzheimer’s disease by analyzing vibrations in the eardrums caused by eye movements. Alzheimer’s, a neurodegenerative disease with no cure, is challenging to diagnose early, and current methods rely on a combination of cognitive tests, brain scans, and invasive procedures.
This new approach builds on findings that people with Alzheimer’s often show impaired motor control and slower, less accurate eye movements (saccades), which generate detectable eardrum vibrations. By analyzing these signals, researchers hope to develop algorithms to identify neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
The study, led by teams from École de Technologie Supérieure in Montreal and Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine, is still in its early stages, with participants being recruited. Preliminary findings suggest hearables could become a noninvasive, sensitive tool for early diagnosis. However, the research is yet to be peer-reviewed.
Miriam Boutros, a lead researcher, emphasized the potential of hearables as small but powerful devices capable of tracking physiological signals like heartbeats, breathing, and eye movements, which could transform early disease detection.