IBM unveils AI-powered fingernail sensor that can monitor Parkinson’s progression

News

Author: Roisin McCormackPublished: 16 January 2019

Prep: Cook: Serves:

US information technology giant IBM has unveiled a prototype of the first artificial intelligence (AI) powered fingernail sensor designed to track disease progression.

The AI system – a wireless device that attaches to the fingernail – monitors the movement of the patient’s nail and calculates their grip strength.

Data gathered is then used to determine how the wearer’s grip has changed over time, and also tracks symptoms such as bradykinesia, tremor and dyskinesia.

Katsuyuki Sakuma, a researcher at IBM’s Thomas J. Watson Research Centre, New York US, said: “Our fingernails deform — bend and move — in stereotypic ways when we use them for gripping, grasping, and even flexing and extending our fingers. This deformation is usually on the order of single digit microns and not visible to the naked eye.

“By pushing computation to the end of our fingers, we’ve found a new use for our nails by detecting and characterising their subtle movements.”

To read more on this topic click here.

For more information on Parkinson’s assessment tools please visit the EPDA website.

Read more:

Inhalable drug given green light

Researchers create Parkinson’s-resistant stem cells

Last Month

Next Month

Go Back

Share this story

Comments

Resources & Tools

How Parkinson’s wearables can deliver accurate data from patient to neurologist

VIDEO: Discover the powerful possibilities of wearable tech

Tips and tricks: how Parkinson’s patients can discover their own coping strategies

Bouncing a ball or riding a bike could help your symptoms

Comedian Rob Deering on raising nearly £100,000 for Parkinson’s UK

"I’ve run nine marathons to raise money for Parkinson’s"

Is there a link between Parkinson’s disease and blood vessel dysfunction?

Scientists in Slovakia have investigated the link between blood vessel dysfunction and Parkinson’s – and found that dopamine agonists may have an impact. The team studied the function of the endothelium – a membrane which lines the heart and blood vessels and helps control blood fluidity – in 41 people with the condition and 41 people without. Endothelial function was then measured through a parameter that assessed how easily blood could flow through the vessels. The results showed that while more people with Parkinson’s had endothelial dysfunction compared to those without, the difference did not reach statistical significance. However, the researchers noted that the findings suggested “an association between smoking, dopamine agonists, and impaired endothelial function” in those with the condition. Outlining the study’s limitations, the team noted that more research is needed to explore this potential link.

New swab test may help with Parkinson’s disease diagnosis

Researchers at the University of Manchester, UK, have drawn on one woman’s sense of smell to develop a swab test that may be used to detect Parkinson’s. The scientists used the test to analyse sebum (a type of oily substance on the skin) in 79 people with Parkinson’s and a control group of 71 healthy individuals. The team identified more than 4,000 different compounds in the participant samples – including 500 that were unique to those living with the condition. The test was developed with the help of Joy Milne from Perth, Scotland, whose unique sense of smell meant that she noticed a change in her late husband Les’s odour twelve years before he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Speaking to the BBC, Professor Perdita Barran, who led the research, described the test as potentially “transformative” – and said that the team hopes to roll the test out to people in…

Could a national biobank help inform the future of Parkinson’s disease treatment in Australia?

A biobank is a collection of biological samples and data designed to be used for research. Now, researchers in Australia are working to build a biobank for Parkinson’s. As part of the project, the scientists are conducting scans of people that have been injected with fluorodopa – a substance that highlights dopamine in the brain. Participants include people living with Parkinson’s and a control group of people without the condition. The resulting database of scans will be used to create a national biobank that aims to inform treatment and research into the condition. Commenting on the study, Olivia Nasser – executive director at the Hospital Research Foundation, which is helping to fund the research – said, “Once we build up the biobank of scans, it can actually be used as an effective way to treat Parkinson’s.” The researchers encourage people with and without Parkinson’s to take part in the trial.

All fields required

First name*
Last name*
Email address*
Enter Email Confirm Email
Country of residence*
About me*
- I have Parkinson's disease
- I am a partner / carer / family / friend of someone who has Parkinson's
- I am a healthcare professional with an interest in Parkinson's
- I work for a Parkinson's disease organisation
- Other
CAPTCHA
*
- By proceeding you agree to our
Comments
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

IBM unveils AI-powered fingernail sensor that can monitor Parkinson’s progression

News

Author: Roisin McCormackPublished: 16 January 2019

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

sponsored article

Resources & Tools

How Parkinson’s wearables can deliver accurate data from patient to neurologist

PD in Practice

Tips and tricks: how Parkinson’s patients can discover their own coping strategies

Interviews

Comedian Rob Deering on raising nearly £100,000 for Parkinson’s UK

Is there a link between Parkinson’s disease and blood vessel dysfunction?

New swab test may help with Parkinson’s disease diagnosis

Could a national biobank help inform the future of Parkinson’s disease treatment in Australia?

{title}

Subscribe

IBM unveils AI-powered fingernail sensor that can monitor Parkinson’s progression

News

Author: Roisin McCormackPublished: 16 January 2019

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Related articles

sponsored article

Resources & Tools

How Parkinson’s wearables can deliver accurate data from patient to neurologist

PD in Practice

Tips and tricks: how Parkinson’s patients can discover their own coping strategies

Interviews

Comedian Rob Deering on raising nearly £100,000 for Parkinson’s UK

Is there a link between Parkinson’s disease and blood vessel dysfunction?

New swab test may help with Parkinson’s disease diagnosis

Could a national biobank help inform the future of Parkinson’s disease treatment in Australia?

{title}

Subscribe

Sign in