New Delhi, October 28 (IANS). An MRI scan of a person’s tongue could help in early detection and monitoring of ‘motor neurone disease’ (MND), according to Australian researchers. MND is a serious neurodegenerative disease.
Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia found that the tongue muscles of people suffering from MND are smaller and weaker than those of normal people. This especially happens with those who have difficulty speaking or swallowing due to this disease. MND is also commonly called ALS.
Dr. Thomas Show of the University’s School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science said that there are eight different types of muscles in the tongue, which handle our eating, swallowing and speaking. In a disease like MND, these muscles gradually become weak and start shrinking. When the tongue becomes weak, both the patient’s speaking and eating are affected.
He further added, “If this weakness is detected early and tracked over time, both the patient and the doctor will benefit.” This is especially important for those who want early access to new treatments or clinical trials. “Early detection can help improve quality of life.”
In this study, researchers analyzed more than 200 old MRI scans, including some from people with MND. They accurately measured the size of the tongue muscles using AI and advanced imaging technologies.
Shaw said that these comparisons made it clear that the tongue muscles of people with MND are different from those of normal people. The difference in the scans was so pronounced that it could help identify early signs of the disease.
The research, published in Computers in Biology and Medicine, showed that people who experience symptoms of MND in the tongue, mouth, throat or neck have a shorter life span than those whose symptoms start in the limbs.
Dr. Brooke-Mae Wellen of the University’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences said that the tongue is a very complex organ. It performs thousands of precise and small tasks every day, which we normally do not even realize. We only notice when the tongue’s ability to function begins to decline.
He said, “If it can be understood which muscles become weak in MND, then solutions can be found that will help the patient.” For example, the patient may change the way he speaks and use the muscles that are still intact. This not only maintains their ability to speak but also improves the quality of life.
–IANS
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