Basic device can identify Parkinson’s disease at an early stage

This pen truly is mightier than the sword.

Researchers from UCLA have created an advanced diagnostic pen that can identify indications of Parkinson’s disease with more than 96% precision, providing a cost-effective method to detect the neurodegenerative condition much earlier than current practices.

A pilot study in the journal Nature Chemical Engineering unveiled the device, which looks much like a regular pen.

It’s able pick up on subtle motor dysfunctions before they’re visible to the naked eye, all by analyzing how people write.

So, how does this futuristic fountain pen work?

The pen’s tip is constructed from a pliable silicone material that is embedded with magnetic particles and utilizes a unique ferrofluid ink containing nanomagnets for writing.

When a person uses the pen to write, the pressure exerted by the hand alters the tip, resulting in changes to magnetic fields that generate electrical signals, similar to a Morse code translating motor function.

Those signals are then analyzed to detect the difference between healthy and Parkinson’s-affected motor patterns.

In tests with 16 participants — including 3 with Parkinson’s — the system nailed the diagnosis with 96.22% accuracy.

Even more impressive? The pen worked whether people wrote on paper or in the air, meaning it doesn’t even require a surface.

Today, Parkinson’s is largely diagnosed based on observations, which are subjective, or by biomarker-based imaging, which can be expensive.

This diagnostic pen is portable, inexpensive and doesn’t rely on a neurologist to interpret results, making it a promising option for remote screenings, home use or even telehealth checkups.

“Our development of the diagnostic pen represents a low-cost, widely disseminable and reliable technology with the potential to improve PD diagnostics across large populations and resource-limited areas,” the researchers wrote.

With further validation in a larger population, the device could be used not just for early diagnosis, but for ongoing symptom tracking and personalized treatment monitoring.

This is just the latest innovation aimed at tackling Parkinson’s disease, which affects more than 10 million people worldwide and has no known cure.

A recent study found that psilocybin — the psychedelic compound that gave “magic mushrooms” their trippy reputation in the 1960s — showed serious promise for improving mood and motor function in people with Parkinson’s disease.

Tavapadon — a new drug that mimics dopamine by targeting certain receptors — has also shown promise in clinical trials by reducing motor fluctuations and maintaining symptom control with fewer side effects than traditional therapies.

Produodopa — a continuous infusion therapy first administered in the UK — was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration last fall.

Innovative approaches targeting the psychological aspects of the disease have been successful as well — with tandem cycling proving to be especially popular.

Some New Yorkers even find relief by playing pingpong.