A Breakthrough in Dementia Screening

Revolutionary Dementia Screening Tool Poised to Transform Early Detection in Primary Care

A groundbreaking test known as qBEANS (Quick Behavioral Exam to Advance Neuropsychological Screening) is showing immense potential in identifying Alzheimer’s disease early, as presented at the 2024 Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting.

What Is qBEANS?

The qBEANS assessment is a hands-on test where patients use a spoon, held in their non-dominant hand, to transfer raw kidney beans into small plastic cups in a precise sequence. This simple activity evaluates critical cognitive domains such as motor learning, visuospatial memory, and executive function. Unlike many diagnostic tools, qBEANS eliminates the need for advanced technologies or wearable devices, making it cost-effective and easy to adopt in healthcare practices.

Promising Results From Research

Research into qBEANS highlights its strong ability to detect Alzheimer’s-specific changes and predict cognitive decline. The initial version of the test, while effective, required seven minutes to administer—too long for practical use in primary care settings.

To address this limitation, researchers, led by Dr. Sydney Schaefer from Arizona State University, redesigned the assessment to reduce its duration. A study involving 48 older adults, with an average age of 75.4, demonstrated that the optimized version of the test could be completed in just 3.85 minutes, cutting the time by nearly half while maintaining excellent reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.85).

Implications for Primary Care Practices

This shortened version of qBEANS is ideal for use during routine check-ins, such as when patients arrive for their appointments. Its ease of use means it can be administered by non-specialist staff, enabling earlier identification of dementia-related symptoms in patients who might otherwise go undiagnosed.

Dr. Schaefer emphasized that earlier detection empowers patients and families to better prepare for the challenges ahead, as well as explore timely interventions to slow cognitive decline.

Expert Opinions and Future Directions

While qBEANS shows incredible promise, experts like Dr. Carla Perissinotto of the University of California, San Francisco, urge caution when considering direct-to-consumer versions of the test. Without clinical oversight, patients may struggle to interpret results correctly, which could lead to unnecessary stress or misunderstanding.

Dr. Perissinotto also stressed the importance of benchmarking qBEANS against well-established cognitive tests like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) or the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to ensure its accuracy and clinical relevance.

Meanwhile, Dr. Schaefer and her collaborator, Jill Love, co-founders of Neurosessments LLC, continue to refine qBEANS. With backing from the National Institutes of Health’s Small Business Innovation Research program, the team is exploring additional applications, including its use as an affordable, accessible option for consumers.

The Road Ahead

While further studies are needed to integrate qBEANS fully into primary care settings, its ability to deliver reliable results quickly and affordably makes it a standout tool in dementia research. Its simplicity and cost-effectiveness could pave the way for widespread adoption, offering a powerful method to combat the challenges of late-stage dementia diagnosis.

This exciting innovation underscores the potential of accessible healthcare tools to transform lives, particularly for those at risk of Alzheimer’s disease.