The smart phone revolution seems to touch everything in our lives: Now doctors in the UK are using their smart phones to diagnose Parkinson’s disease in some patients.
Doctors there are using a new app that can spot some of the early signs of the disease, which affects 127,000 people in the United Kingdom.
The idea of the app is that the phone can detect changes in the voice, so patients can be diagnosed earlier and get treatment sooner. Medics currently are testing the app on 2500 people with PD, as well as those with symptoms or have genes that are linked to PD.
Earlier research has shown that with proper analysis of voice pitch, breathing and how a person makes vowel sounds, medical professionals can diagnose the disease with 99% accuracy.
Smart phones also can be used to see how far the disease has gotten in patients who already were diagnosed. According to one of the researchers at the University of Aston, you can accurately predict if someone has PD, and you actually can score their symptoms on common clinical scales.
PD is notoriously difficult to diagnose, and specialists often have to take a very detailed history of symptoms and carefully analyze them for any physical signs of PD. Using this smart phone data could make the process of diagnosis easier.
Helpful Bathing Products for Parkinson’s Patients
Caring for a person with PD can be challenging, but our extensive line of products for the bathroom can really help. Consider these items:
Telescoping Portable Grab Bar for Four Inch Tiles – Makes the bathing process safer and easier.
Soaper Sponge Bath Sponge – Has a long handle that holds bar soap for easier bathing for the PD or stroke patient.
