Innovative Dementia Screening Tool Shows Promise for Primary Care
A novel, cost-effective dementia screening test, known as qBEANS (Quick Behavioral Exam to Advance Neuropsychological Screening), has demonstrated potential in enhancing early detection of Alzheimer’s disease within primary care settings. This development was highlighted at the Gerontological Society of America’s 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting.
About qBEANS
The qBEANS test evaluates motor learning, visuospatial memory, and executive function by having patients use a spoon with their non-dominant hand to transfer raw kidney beans into small plastic cups in a specific sequence. This straightforward method requires no advanced technology or wearable sensors, making it both accessible and easy to implement in various healthcare environments.
Research Findings
Earlier studies have indicated that qBEANS is sensitive and specific to Alzheimer’s disease pathology and can predict cognitive and functional decline. However, the initial version of the test required approximately seven minutes to administer, which was considered lengthy for primary care use.
To address this, researchers, including Dr. Sydney Schaefer, an associate professor at Arizona State University’s School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, sought to streamline the test. Their study involved 48 participants without dementia, with an average age of 75.4 years. The findings revealed that the shortened version of qBEANS takes about 3.85 minutes to complete—nearly 48% faster than the original—while maintaining high reliability, with an intraclass correlation of 0.85.
Implications for Primary Care
The brevity and simplicity of the revised qBEANS test suggest it could be easily administered by medical assistants during patient check-in, potentially increasing early dementia detection rates in primary care settings. Dr. Schaefer noted that detecting cognitive impairment before it becomes noticeable allows individuals more time to prepare and seek interventions.
Considerations and Future Directions
While the shortened qBEANS test shows promise, further research is necessary to assess its acceptability and effectiveness in primary care environments. Additionally, some experts, like Dr. Carla Perissinotto from the University of California, San Francisco, caution against direct-to-consumer applications without clinical guidance, emphasizing the importance of integrating new tools with existing standard assessments such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
The development of qBEANS represents a collaborative effort between researchers and industry. Dr. Schaefer and Jill Love, co-founders of Neurosessments LLC, have been instrumental in advancing this tool, with support from grants like the Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Institutes of Health.
As the qBEANS assessment progresses toward potential clinical application, it offers a promising avenue for improving early detection of dementia, thereby enhancing patient outcomes through timely intervention.
For a visual overview of the qBEANS development, you may find the following video informative:
ADRC Director Partners With Small Business to Develop Early Dementia Screening Test