New British game to help identify early dementia symptoms

摘要

Researchers into dementia hope that a new phone and tablet game will help them develop tests to diagnose early signs of the disease. One of the first things to be affected by people suffering dementia is the ability to navigate physical environments, but doctors can find it difficult to diagnose whether this is a symptom of the disease or simply old age. In the game, called Sea Hero Quest, players have to move around a 3D environment beneath the sea, looking for aquatic monsters. Scientists will monitor how players do this, building up an anonymous database of 'normal' navigational skills. They will then compare the results with patients showing early signs of dementia.