scientists from kaunas university of technology, in Lithuania, are developing a new method to facilitate the early diagnosis of Parkinson’s from speech. Speech disorders are known as one of the characteristic symptoms of the disease and the strategy could contribute to the early initiation of treatment.
The hallmark signs of the disease, such as muscle stiffness, tremors and balance problems, usually appear after 80% of the nerve cells in the brain are lost. Speech difficulties can arise even in the initial stage of the disease, with a lower tone of voice, slow and more fragmented speech, and less expression, explain the researchers.
Diagnosis
Currently, the diagnosis of Parkinson’s is made from the patient’s clinical history and neurological examination. There is no specific test for its diagnosis or way to prevent neurodegenerative disease.
In the Lithuanian study, researchers used artificial intelligence to study speech samples from 104 people, including 61 Parkinson’s patients and 43 healthy volunteers. Everyone recorded their voice in an acoustic booth and an algorithm was used to process the recordings and analyze the differences.
“We are not creating a substitute for routine patient examination. Our method is designed to facilitate early diagnosis of the disease and track the effectiveness of treatment,” says professor and data scientist Rytis Maskeliūnas. He believes that technological advances will facilitate the analysis of the picture.
Parkinson’s is a neurological disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of the neurons responsible for producing dopamine.KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/ Getty Images
*****Photo-hand-tremendo.jpgThis degenerative process of nerve cells can affect different parts of the brain and, as a consequence, generate symptoms such as involuntary tremors, loss of motor coordination and muscle stiffness.Elizabeth Fernandez/Getty Images
*****Photo-nurse-helping-woman-to-get-up-from-armchair.jpgOther symptoms of the disease are slowness, muscle contraction, involuntary movements and postural instability.izusek/ Getty Images
*****Photo-elderly-sitting-eating.jpgIn advanced cases, the disease also prevents the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that regulates memory, learning and sleep.SimpleImages/ Getty Images
*****Photo-red-haired-woman-sitting-in-a-wheelchair.jpgAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), although the disease is known to affect elderly people, about 10% to 15% of diagnosed patients are under 50 years old.Ilya Ginzburg/EyeEm/ Getty Images
*****Picture-hands-on-the-others.jpgIt is not known for sure what causes Parkinson’s, but when it occurs in young people, it is common that it has a genetic relationship. In this case, the symptoms progress more slowly, and there is greater cognitive preservation and life expectancy.Visoot Uthairam/ Getty Images
*****Photo-person-doing-CT scan.jpgThe diagnosis is medical and requires a series of exams, such as: brain tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. For patients without symptoms, computed tomography is recommended to check the amount of dopamine in the brainJohnnyGreig/ Getty Images
*****Picture-people-looking-at-the-skull-x-ray.jpgParkinson’s has no cure, but treatment can slow the progression of symptoms and help with quality of life. In addition to medication, monitoring by a multidisciplinary team is necessary. In some cases, brain surgery is possible.Andriy Onufriyenko/ Getty Images
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Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s is a neurological disease that affects the patient’s movements. It occurs because of the degeneration of cells located in a region of the brain called substantia nigra. These cells produce dopamine, which is responsible for conducting nerve currents throughout the body.
A decrease or lack of dopamine affects motor function, as well as the function of the vocal cords, diaphragm and lungs.
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