The Gateway to Brain Health—Advancing Disease Detection and Patient Accessibility

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The Gateway to Brain Health—Advancing Disease Detection and Patient AccessibilitySpeakersSai Mattapalli and Rohan Kalahasty, Co-founders, Vytal.aiModeratorSweta Sneha, PhD, Executive Director of Healthcare Management Informatics. Professor of Information Systems, Coles College of Business, Kennesaw University, USA REVEALING BRAIN HEALTH THROUGH THE EYESScientists have identified a significant connection between deficits in eye movements and disorders of the brain or brain injuries. This discovery has led to earlier detection of several conditions, leading to earlier treatment and sometimes longer, healthier patient lives. Eye tracking tests are employed to measure the brain’s ability to perform or suppress reflexive eye movements—movements patients may not even be aware that they are performing. These tests include saccade tests, anti-saccade tests, and smooth pursuit tasks. Saccades are rapid eye movements that shift the center of gaze from one part of the visual field to another.Examining saccades gauges the patient’s ability to perform this function in a single, rapid movement, while anti-saccade tests measure a patient’s ability to suppress those reflexive movements. Smooth pursuit tasks test a patient’s ability to follow an object smoothly while keeping that object in full view. It is considered voluntary, and a patient’s inability to perform well in them may point to deeper issues inside the brain.In addition, pupillary responses can point to issues with emotional response or a brain’s cognitive load. Neurology, as a discipline, has largely relied on in-person assessment, but developing at-home solutions using these eye-movement tests can help physicians better understand what might be occurring inside a patient’s brain without necessitating an in-person visit.INDIVIDUALIZING CAREEye-movement testing has been revolutionized by pivoting from bulky, expensive equipment to a smartphone or laptop camera, allowing easier access to testing capabilities and a more affordable option for providers and patients. With better detection and diagnosis, patients can begin to receive tailored, individualized care early on, leading to better chances of treatment success. Eye-movement tests have been used to pinpoint degenerative disorders (e.g., Huntington’s disease or Parkinson’s disease), neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia and anxiety), as well as brain injuries (e.g., concussions). Innovations in the eye-movement test space have also leveraged advances in telehealth and remote healthcare capabilities. FUTURE POTENTIALGaze tracking is not a new concept, but the vast improvements and innovations being brought forth in the healthcare space have made gaze tracking a more accessible option. New gaze tracking systems are non-invasive, have remote capabilities, and come at significant cost savings over older methods.With advances in gaze tracking, neurodegenerative diseases can be caught earlier than ever, allowing providers to treat patients earlier and possibly slow disease progression. Groundbreaking work in gaze tracking has often failed to “see” real-world applications reach enough people who could benefit from the technology. Now, with advancements in gaze tracking and the enhanced reliance on telehealth in the post-COVID environment, that gap is being bridged.