A compact, portable brain scanner that uses spectroscopy to monitor mitochondrial metabolism has shown potential as a noninvasive tool for detecting early-stage dementia, according to a pilot study from researchers in the UK.
The team used broadband near-infrared spectroscopy (bNIRS) to measure both blood oxygenation and metabolic activity in the brains of older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Unlike conventional NIRS, which typically tracks only hemoglobin changes, the broadband system captures signals from cytochrome c oxidase (oxCCO) – a mitochondrial enzyme whose activity is known to decline in Alzheimer’s disease
The researchers used bNIRS to monitor both blood oxygenation and brain metabolism in response to visual stimulation. The test involved presenting participants with a flickering checkerboard pattern while the device recorded responses from the visual cortex. Participants included five healthy controls, seven people with mild cognitive impairment, and seven with early Alzheimer’s dementia.
The analysis focused on the amplitude and timing of the brain’s response. Notably, the strength of the link between brain signals and cognitive test scores was highest when oxCCO measurements were included, but dropped when oxCCO was excluded. This finding suggested that including oxCCO improves the ability of bNIRS to capture clinically relevant brain changes.
The work is the first to noninvasively measure oxCCO during functional tasks in people with dementia, using a wearable system. Because the technology is lightweight and can be used in patients’ homes, it could enable more frequent, accessible assessments and help track disease progression or treatment response.
The study, published in the Journal of Biomedical Optics, is an early demonstration, and larger trials are needed to validate its clinical utility. But the authors suggest that with refinement, bNIRS could complement MRI and PET scans as a lower-cost, patient-friendly diagnostic aid for Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Newsletters
Receive the latest analytical science news, personalities, education, and career development – weekly to your inbox.
