18 2GM Monday January 3 2022 | the times
News
Playing a video game could form part of
tests to diagnose dementia early, scien-
tists hope. It could also keep an eye on
those with the condition so they receive
help when it is most needed.
The software, called Thymia, is being
tested by researchers at King’s College
London for its ability to detect condi-
tions including Alzheimer’s, Parkin-
son’s disease and Lewy body dementia.
Patients are asked to play simple
games, such as tapping an animated bee
character on a screen or verbally
describing a picture. The software
monitors their voice, eye movements,
and tiny changes on the face known as
“micro-expressions”.
The data is combined into a patient
profile. If it is similar to the profiles typi-
cally seen in people with an early form
of dementia or other neurological con-
dition, it is likely they have the disease.
The programme can spot signs that
would not necessarily be obvious to a
human observer, such as lower ability
to keep continuous eye contact, or mi-
croscopic twitches of facial muscles. It
can also tell whether someone is having
difficulty dividing their attention
between different moving objects, a
potential sign of cognitive impairment.
Dr Emilia Molimpakis, a neuroscien-
tist and co-founder and chief executive
of Thymia, told The Sunday Telegraph:
“In the early stages of a disease, clini-
cians can struggle to differentiate
DANNY LAWSON/PAVideo game that can
spot dementia early
[these conditions] from depression but
this technology can clearly distinguish
between types. It means we will be able
to detect early signs of these conditions
and monitor how they deteriorate.”
She added: “Combining data from
three streams — speech, movement
and behaviour — gives us a clearer pic-
ture than looking at these in isolation.”
The software can be used at home on
any device with a webcam and internet
connection. Trials with NHS patients
are due to begin in the summer.
Patients need a referral from a GP or
specialist to use the programme.
Results are sent to a clinician, and
patients are not given news about their
health status by the app.
However, once they have been diag-
nosed, the programme can be used as
often as patients wish, and clinicians
can use the data to check whether they
are deteriorating.
“Typically with these conditions, you
might have one assessment and be
diagnosed and then it can be months
until the next follow up, while in the
meantime, there’s no way of monitor-
ing how things are going,” Molimpakis
said. She initially had the idea for
Thymia as a better way to monitor
patients with depression after a close
friend tried to take her own life.
Katherine Gray, of the Alzheimer’s
Society, said: “[Thymia] could [identify]
unique sets of ‘fingerprints’ based on
behaviour making it easier to tell
dementia from other conditions.”Kat Lay Health Editor
One-hour surgery ‘could cure prostate cancer’
A pioneering hour-long operation
could cure prostate cancer by destroy-
ing tumours using electric currents,
surgeons have said.
University College London Hospital
described the procedure, called Nano-
Knife, as “amazingly simple”, reducing
the chance of numerous side effects.
Surgeons at the hospital have usedthe technique to carry out the first six
operations for prostate cancer on the
NHS, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Professor Mark Emberton, a consult-
ant urologist, said: “This offers us a new
class of therapy — it’s a completely new
way of destroying cells. The beauty of it
is that it’s such a simple technique to
train surgeons in. That makes it a
game-changer.”
NanoKnife, manufactured by Angio-Dynamics, works by deploying electri-
cal pulses around the tumour to destroy
cancer cells, guided by MRI scanning.
Other treatments, also known as
“focal” therapies, which include the
freezing technique cryotherapy and
focused ultrasound, are available only
in leading specialist centres.
Each year almost 12,000 men in the
UK die from prostate cancer out of
almost 50,000 diagnosed.Nadeem BadshahRoll out the barrel A 1:16 replica of a 1942 German StuG III at the Manchester Military History Society’s tank meet in Hyde