Three-minute test helps identify people at greater risk of Alzheimer’s, trial finds

The Fastball test is a form of EEG that uses small sensors on the scalp to record the brain’s electrical activity while people watch images on a screen. Photograph: Nikola Scanlon/Brace Dementia Research

A three-minute brainwave test can detect memory problems linked to Alzheimer’s disease long before people are typically diagnosed, raising hopes that the approach could help identify those most likely to benefit from new drugs for the condition.

In a small trial, the test flagged specific memory issues in people with mild cognitive impairment, highlighting who was at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Trials in larger groups are under way.