At-home checks speed care

SCIENTISTS have built a “game-changer” cap that allows medics to monitor patients’ brains at home — allowing faster diagnoses and better treatment of neurological conditions.

- By Chris Riches

Researchers at the University of Plymouth developed the wireless dry-electrode headset, which records brain activity and sends results to a smartphone app.

A prototype resembling a water polo cap has been successfully tested and will be finessed for wider use as part of the £2.45million project.

The cap works in a similar way to hospital EEGs, for which there can be long waiting lists and lengthy journeys. These can be used to find the cause of suspected seizures but diagnosis can be difficult and take years.

Dementia

More than 100,000 people in the UK suffer a fit each year, making this the largest neurological cause of unplanned admission to A&E.