Suddenly Storm Andresen began to forget things he was supposed to remember. He also began to repeat questions he had asked a short time ago. – It was never in my mind that I would become demented, and there is nothing to strive for, he says. But in 2021 he was diagnosed with dementia. Storm Andresen himself has volunteered as a participant in a research study. Photo: Hanne Høyland / news – It is the short-term memory that is troublesome. The good old jokes are still there, says Andresen and lets loose with laughter. Stavanger University Hospital (SUS) will now lead a comprehensive dementia study. Research will be conducted into how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to detect dementia in an early phase. – This is important work, says his wife Marit. Using artificial intelligence The goal is that simple home tests will replace examinations that today require being done in hospital, such as spinal fluid tests and X-rays. An AI model will be developed that learns to recognize the signs of dementia in the samples in an efficient way. A small blood test in the finger at home, saliva and faeces samples, and various tests via apps are some of the things to be tried out. Research nurse Ann Cecilie Hopøy shows how the saliva sample for dementia testing works. Photo: Hanne Høyland / news Professor Dag Årsland at the SESAM center at SUS will lead the research from Norway. – It is probably one of the very largest projects in the world for exactly this, he says. Around 101,000 people live with dementia in Norway today, according to figures from FHI (external link). And the number is expected to rise due to the predicted wave of elderly people (external link). – We expect a lot of pressure from people who want to know if they have the disease, and then the healthcare system must find smart ways to do this. We want to develop methods that contribute to diagnostics at GPs, or even at people’s homes, explains Årsland. Professor Dag Årsland looks on while Maombi Mongane takes a blood sample from his finger. People should be able to do this at home. Photo: Hanne Høyland / news NOK 250 million has been set aside for the research project, which is EU-financed and will take place in seven European countries. 4,000 people will take part in the study. Further research will then be carried out on those who are considered to have a high risk of developing dementia. Gives hope Mina Gerhardsen, Secretary General of the National Association for Public Health, believes that research is important for dementia patients of the future. Mina Gerhardsen, secretary general of the National Association for Public Health. Photo: ANDRé BENDIXEN / news – It gives the opportunity to follow up the individual better, in order to safeguard health and coping for as long as possible. But the real big gain lies in the fact that we will then be prepared when we do find a cure for dementia. Then we can start treatment before the disease has done much damage, she says. She believes the research project is helping to give hope. – Dementia is today a disease without hope. With the possibility of early diagnosis and eventually drugs that can attack the disease, we will have the opportunity to stop dementia in the future, she says. Reminiscing helps the memory Reminiscing helps Storm to sharpen his memory, so that he does not forget friends and family members. Photo: Hanne Høyland / news The Andresen couple often reminisce about old photos. It helps the memory. Storm is positive about all research that is done on dementia, and makes himself available whenever the SESAM clinic needs dementia patients to research. This particular study will not help him, but those that come after. Now it’s about making the best of the situation he’s in. Storm is still in an early phase of the disease and is functioning well with good help from his wife Marit. – You hopefully still have a few years left, even if you have turned 80, she says optimistically. – I have been lucky. I still feel reasonably upbeat, Storm interjects. Do you have questions or concerns related to dementia? Then you can call the dementia line on 23 12 00 40.
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Large international research study to use AI to detect early dementia – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
