Quantum tech could be used to detect dementia symptoms

New highly-sensitive quantum sensors in the brain may be able to detect symptoms for diseases such as dementia, ALS or Parkinson's, according to research published by Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) and the University of Sussex.

The findings, which were detailed in the Scientific Reports journal on November 19, suggest the non-intrusive magnetoencephalography (MEG) scanners being developed by the scientists may be able to detect the magnetic fields generated during brain activity, which could be used to track neurodegenerative diseases, potentially leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment.

Read more: This AI may help detect early cancer signs

The scanners track moment-to-moment changes in the brain, which could allow for regular check-ups to conclude whether or not brain activity is slowing down, a common symptom of diseases such as dementia.

“We’ve shown for the first time that quantum sensors can produce highly accurate results in terms of both space and time," the paper's lead author Aikaterini Gialopsou, a doctoral researcher at BSMS and the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at the University of Sussex, said. "While other teams have shown the benefits in terms of locating signals in the brain, this is the first time that quantum sensors have proved to be so accurate in terms of the timing of signals too."

"This could be really significant for doctors and patients concerned with the development of brain disorders," he added.

Dementia continues to be among the largest killers in the UK, often climbing year on year, according to a 2018 report by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). However, a more recent report suggests deaths have dropped slightly in 2020.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) claims more than 55 million people worldwide live with dementia and finding a way to properly treat the disease represents one of the most pressing medical challenges of our time.

Parkinson's disease does not directly kill people, but it can lead to nasty falls or bouts of pneumonia, which can often lead to death in older or more vulnerable people.

The team claims these quantum scanners are "more effective" than either EEG or fMRI scanners "due in part to the fact that the sensors can get closer to the skull," the report states. The closer proximity can reportedly lead to faster results across larger sections of the brain.

“It’s the quantum technology which makes these sensors so accurate”, said Professor Peter Kruger, a lecturer at Sussex University, who oversees the Quantum Systems and Devices lab.

He added: “The sensors contain a gas of rubidium atoms. Beams of laser light are shone at the atoms, and when the atoms experience changes in a magnetic field, they emit light differently. Fluctuations in the emitted light reveal changes in the magnetic activity in the brain. The quantum sensors are accurate within milliseconds and within several millimetres."

The research states the MEG scanners passively probe brain activity, rather than relying on sending a signal to the brain and recording the result, as is seen with many contemporary brain scans.

However, they admit they are currently difficult to operate in clinical trials, owing to them being bulky and expensive.

Read more: Meet Hugo: Medtronic's surgical robot cleared for use in Europe

Gialopsou revealed she hopes this could inspire a "quantum revolution" in neuroscience which could lead to further developments.

"This matters because, although the scanners are in their infancy, there are implications for future developments that could lead to crucial early diagnosis of brain diseases, such as ALS, MS and even Alzheimer's," she said. 

"That’s what motivates us as a team," she concluded.

Back to Homepage

Back to Healthcare

Back to Technology & Innovation