New Pen May Detect Early Signs of Parkinson’s Disease

Our handwriting may reveal more than just our thoughts — with this new invention, it could also provide clues about our health.

As reported by Illustreret Videnskab, researchers at the University of California have developed a special pen that may help detect early signs of Parkinson’s disease.

The pen can pick up tiny hand tremors that may indicate the disease before other symptoms appear.

The pen is 3D printed and has a silicone tip with magnetic particles.

It uses magnetic ink that responds to small hand movements during writing or drawing. These movements create electrical signals that are sent to an app. Artificial intelligence then analyzes the data to detect potential signs of Parkinson’s.

In a small study, the pen was tested on 16 people. Three of them had Parkinson’s disease. Using machine learning, the system was able to correctly identify those with the disease with an accuracy of over 96 percent.

The researchers believe the pen is cheap and easy to use, making it a possible tool for early detection even in low-income countries.

The study was published in the journal Nature.

Parkinson’s disease affects the brain and causes tremors and slow movements. Early diagnosis can improve treatment and quality of life. But current methods are often expensive and require expert specialists.

This new pen could become a more accessible option in the future.

Although the study included only a small number of participants, the researchers see potential for the pen to help detect Parkinson’s disease earlier.