Everyday task may help detect early dementia signs before diagnosis, study finds

A simple writing test could detect cognitive impairment in older individuals before more serious symptoms occur, scientists have discovered.

Writing is a complex, brain-heavy workout that requires the mind to process information, organize thoughts and send precise signals to the fingers all at once, according to experts.

Because writing draws on so many complex mental functions, researchers believe that small changes in how people write could provide early warning signs for cognitive impairment.

Researchers in Portugal wanted to see if analyzing the process of writing — such as how long a person pauses or how they organize their strokes — could catch cognitive changes earlier than traditional paper-and-pencil tests, which usually only grade the final answer.

The study looked at 58 older adults between the ages of 62 and 92 living in care homes, according to a press release.

Among the participants, 38 had already been diagnosed with cognitive impairment . Each volunteer was asked to complete various writing exercises using an ink pen on a specialized digital tablet that tracked their precise hand movements.

The tests covered basic pen control, copying sentences from a flashcard, and writing sentences that others spoke aloud, the researchers said.

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