SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SCREENING FOR DEMENTIA

摘要

An easily administered, non-invasive, sensitive and specific system and method for screening persons for dementia, particularly dementia of the Alzheimer's type, is provided. The system and method include means (19) for irradiating the eye (3) of a person with light, preferably light solely within the infrared spectrum, and means (11, 13) for generating a signal responsive to the amount of light reflected from the eye over a period of time. This signal is indicative of changes in the pupil's size over time. The system and method further include means (15) for performing a Fourier transform upon this signal to provide a value indicative of the strength of this signal's frequency components. This value then is compared against a predetermined threshold value and, if this threshol value is exceeded, a higher probability is assigned to the person having dementia, particularly dementia of the Alzheimer's type.