BlinkLab’s platform uses smartphones and tablets to conduct neurometric evaluations. Pic: Getty Images
Health & Biotech
Special Report: BlinkLab’s smartphone and tablet-based app has the potential to become a valuable clinical tool for diagnosing autism and/or ADHD, significantly reducing the time it takes for families and patients to receive a diagnosis.
Henk-Jan Boele (MD PhD), CEO of medical device company BlinkLab (ASX:BB1), says the platform could be a “game changer” in the field of neurometrics and diagnostic testing for conditions such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Boele, who holds a medical degree and is a successful neuroscientist at Princeton University and Erasmus MC, says one of the challenges in diagnosing autism and ADHD is the absence of definitive medical tests.
“What I mean is that there are for instance no brain scans or blood tests that can confirm the presence of these conditions,” he says.
“Diagnostic evaluations rely on subjective observations from clinical experts, schools, and families.”
Boele says consequently, there are long waitlists for diagnosis, making the process labour-intensive and time-consuming.
“Families often experience deep frustration due to the lengthy process and the uncertainty they endure,” he says.
Boele says there are so-called ‘neurometric tests’, such as prepulse inhibition (PPI), which can be extremely valuable in diagnosing neurodevelopmental conditions including autism and ADHD but are technically complex to administer.
“Children need to visit a specialised lab, wear uncomfortable and bulky equipment on their faces, and sit still, all while dealing with the intimidating presence of medical staff,” he says.
“I speak from experience here and as a neuroscientist and medical doctor I have been doing these tests for many years at Erasmus Medical Centre in Europe and at Princeton in the US.
“The process is not only clinically impractical but also very uncomfortable for the child, so as a result these neurometric evaluations have never been implemented in clinical practice.”
With its origins at Princeton University, the BlinkLab platform was developed by a team of neuroscientists, medical doctors and software engineers.
The platform uses advanced smartphone sensors to measure subtle changes in sensory responses, focusing on the brain’s reaction to unexpected sounds.
The approach leverages the known phenomenon that individuals with ADHD and autism often exhibit different responses to unexpected sounds, such as blinking more frequently or differently compared to neurotypical individuals.
Boele says how the brain processes sensory information is an issue for 70-95% of children with autism.
Furthermore, he says the platform can be used in children as young as 18 months old, leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment for better outcomes.
“The platform uses smartphones and tablets to conduct neurometric evaluations, allowing us to test children in the comfort of their own homes for the first time ever with no stress and no time pressure,” Boele says.
“By running tests like PPI, BlinkLab evaluates your brain’s filtering capacity, which is crucial for preventing overstimulation and is often altered in autism.
“This is a game changer in the field of neurometrics and diagnostic testing, because now the clinician has an objective tool available that can serve as an aid in the diagnosis. Of note, BlinkLab test should be considered as an adjuct to, not a replacement of, the diagnostic evaluation process today.”
He says people with autism often mention feeling overwhelmed by sensory input, like the sounds at a swimming pool or flashing lights in a tunnel, which significantly impacts their daily lives.
“In the movie Rain Man Tom Cruise’s character learns that his brother has autism and the psychiatrist explains that it’s a condition that affects the brain’s sensory processing,” he says.
“This leads to difficulties in communication, learning, and self-expression.
“It’s a very accurate description I think and a very illustrative movie.”
Boele says the platform has been validated with thousands of participants, including hundreds with autism and/or ADHD.
“Currently, our platform has a diagnostic accuracy of over 80% without the usage of any questionnaire but purely based on the neurometric evaluations,” he says.
“I envision that BlinkLab will serve as an aid in the diagnosis process by providing a digital biomarker.”
He says medical experts will have access to BlinkLab’s objective, validated neurological evaluations in diagnosing autism and ADHD.
“BlinkLab will not diagnose on its own, instead the clinical expert makes the diagnosis,” he says.
“BlinkLab outcomes will function similarly to, for instance, a growth curve for children or a blood test for haemoglobin, giving the doctor a simple value indicating whether a child falls within or deviates from reference values.
BB1 recently announced it had inked a partnership with the Netherlands-based Mental Care Group, the fifth-largest outpatient mental health provider in Europe.
This strategic partnership aims to improve and accelerate the way ADHD is diagnosed and managed.
The alliance follows the successful outcome of a pilot study conducted by BlinkLab and MCG, which confirmed the effectiveness of BlinkLab’s technology in a clinical setting.
“We are moving towards regulatory approval in the US, Europe, and Australia. InIn the coming weeks, we will have important updates on our progress with these.”
This article was developed in collaboration with BlinkLab, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.
This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
Health & Biotech
Health & Biotech
Health & Biotech
