Embedded platform-based system for early detection of Alzheimer disease through transcranial magnetic stimulation

摘要

Alzheimer Disease (AD) represents one of the main causes of neurodegenerative dementia in the population aged 60+. This fact, together with the growing number of elderly forecasted for the next decades, will increase its relevance in the medium-term future. In this view, numerous disease-modifying treatments are being developed, which have been shown to be effective only if administered early in the disease course. Thus, the identification of the dementia typology afflicting a patient is of primary importance. Despite several techniques have been proposed in the last decades, it is still challenging to distinguish AD from other neurodegenerative dementias. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) techniques show good results; moreover they are non-invasive, easy to apply and not time-consuming. TMS-based techniques are usually implemented by means of ad hoc clinical equipment, purposely designed and configured to implement a specific diagnostic protocol. Devices are often expensive, and they require specialized personnel to implement the setup and to manage the measuring process. This work proposes a new architecture for the application of TMS which can provide a high degree of versatility, being suitable for a large number of diagnostic protocols, as well as easiness of use/configuration, being based on a simple web interface. Moreover, test results are promptly available for medical interpretation, thus speeding up the diagnostic process.