Researchers from Leiden University in the Netherlands have identified a promising approach for screening Alzheimer’s disease that uses a simple finger tapping task. The finding suggests that a person’s performance on a finger tapping test may reflect overall cognitive function and help identify issues associated with memory and thinking. MedicalXpress reported on these developments, highlighting the potential of this quick, noninvasive method to contribute to early detection efforts.
The study recruited a total of 100 volunteers, divided into four groups: 47 individuals without cognitive impairment, 27 with mild cognitive impairment, and 26 diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Participants completed a task that required touching a keyboard using their fingers. They could use a single finger, such as the index finger, or engage several fingers on each hand depending on the trial. The computer system evaluated several dynamic features of tapping: how quickly a subject began pressing keys after a cue, how many keys were pressed during a fixed interval, and the duration of pauses between successive keystrokes.
Results showed distinct patterns among the groups. Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease tended to start tapping more slowly after the cue and exhibited irregular tapping rhythms. Those with mild cognitive impairment performed better than the Alzheimer’s group, pressing keys more regularly and quickly, yet their performance still lagged behind healthy participants. Using these metrics, the computer algorithm assigned each participant to a cognitive-status group with about a seventy percent correct classification rate.
Researchers emphasize that the finger tapping test could serve as a practical tool in the initial assessment of Alzheimer’s disease. Its noninvasive nature, low cost, and ease of administration make it appealing for potential use in primary care settings, clinics, and community screenings where quick triage is valuable. The approach aligns with broader efforts to identify accessible, scalable biomarkers for cognitive decline that complement existing clinical evaluations and imaging techniques.
Looking ahead, the team plans to replicate findings in larger populations and in more diverse groups to determine the test’s reliability across different ages, education levels, and health backgrounds. They also aim to refine the computer analysis to improve accuracy and to integrate finger tapping results with other simple assessments, potentially creating a composite screening profile that could flag individuals who warrant more comprehensive testing. While this research is early-stage, it adds to a growing body of work seeking practical, noninvasive tools to detect cognitive changes long before a formal diagnosis is made.
In parallel, researchers are continuing to explore methods that can predict Alzheimer’s risk many years before symptoms appear. Earlier work has proposed simple, scalable assessments that could forecast disease onset decades in advance, underscoring a broader shift toward proactive monitoring and early intervention strategies in cognitive health. The current finger tapping study contributes to this movement by offering a feasible, easy-to-administer option that complements other screening modalities and could help identify individuals who might benefit from preventive strategies or closer follow-up.