Timing ability as an early cognitive signature for Alzheimer's disease

With the advent of biomarkers and genetic testing, we are closer than we ever have been before to developing a definite diagnostic method for Alzheimer’s Disease. However, as with many new technologies, such methods are often prohibitively costly, requiring specialised machines or invasive procedures, limiting access for one of the most vulnerable demographic groups. There have been promising studies regarding impaired timing ability in both humans with Alzheimer’s and animals modelling the disease. We sought to adapt the methods of one of these animal studies for use in humans as a simple computer task, both to assess its translational validity as well as its ability to differentiate between dementias, especially in early stages. To test this, we recruited participants with Alzheimer’s, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Other Dementias as well as age-matched controls to perform the task. We hypothesised that participants with Alzheimer’s would exhibit both reduced precision as well as accuracy. Results showed that clinical groups displayed significantly impaired precision and accuracy compared to the control group, however there was little observed difference between the clinical groups. We discuss possible explanations and implications for these results, with suggestions for future directions of study.