NeuroCatch: Neurotechnology for Longevity
NeuroCatch® is a Canadian-made portable brain scanner that can provide rapid, objective information about cognitive brain function. This device, from Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, can be used to evaluate concussions, brain injuries, and brain fog caused by COVID-19. It can also be used to evaluate neurological disorders (dementia, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, epilepsy etc.) and psychiatric conditions (anxiety, depression, PTSD etc.).
How does this work?
Neurocatch® uses electroencephalography (EEG) sensors that can detect electrical activity of the brain. Through a mesh cap, electrodes are placed on the scalp, being able to detect small electrical charges created through activity of neurons (brain cells). EEG is a useful tool because it can provide real-time physiological data (high temporal resolution). However, a disadvantage of using this technology is that it tends to have a lower spatial resolution. This means it is difficult to know if an electrical signal is produced near the surface of the brain (the cortex), or from a deeper region of the brain. Whilst EEG normally takes 20-40 minutes, Neurocatch® takes only 6 minutes to conduct an evaluation.
Event-related potentials (ERPs) are derived from EEG and are then used to track cognitive information processing. ERPs are known as the "brain fingerprint" of cognition. They use a sophisticated method of isolating more specific neurocognitive processes through simple averaging techniques. ERPs provide an accurate measure of the effects of a disorder/brain injury as they are impervious to user bias, despite being sensitive to external factors such as sleep, stress, and fatigue.
In Neurocatch®, these ERPs are then used to evaluate for auditory sensory, basic attention, and cognitive processing. This optimises individual brain health, and guides brain care catered to individual patient needs. This ensures that brain evaluation is objective, accurate, and fast.
Neurocatch® & Longevity
Many age-related diseases have a late onset and slow prognosis, so misdiagnosis is common. Neurocatch® ensures that neurological or psychiatric disorders are accurately and efficiently diagnosed, monitored and treated. With diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and dementia, if Neurocatch® can form a diagnosis in the early days of onset, then many of the symptoms can be monitored and minimised. This will allow for greater liveability with patients, as they will be able to pursue their hobbies for longer due to a more curated treatment plan. Further, Neurocatch® can detect specific problem brain regions, allowing doctors to monitor brain activity that causes specific symptoms.
This device can be used as a tool to monitor prognosis of a disease as well, allowing doctors to identify the regions and rate of degeneration. This will allow more accurate estimates to be formed for mortality. Using this device, researchers can also curate more specific and objective research on such diseases, in order to find potential cures.
