September 27, 2021
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Keio University
Under the JST Strategic Basic Research Programs, a research group led by Lecturer Koji Fujita of the Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences at Tokyo Medical and Dental University and Associate Professor Yuta Sugiura of the Faculty of Science and Technology at Keio University has developed a simple method for screening for cervical myelopathy by combining hand motion analysis using a contactless sensor with machine learning.
Cervical myelopathy is a disease that causes difficulty moving the hands and fingers and unsteadiness in walking due to compression of the spinal cord in the neck. However, because there are few subjective symptoms in the early stages and it is difficult for non-specialists to diagnose, symptoms may worsen before a patient visits a specialized hospital and is diagnosed with cervical myelopathy. Therefore, the development of a screening tool that leads to early diagnosis and treatment is desired.
This research group focused on the deterioration of hand and finger movements as cervical myelopathy worsens and analyzed its characteristics. They created a program that records hand motion data using a contactless sensor and estimates the presence or absence of the disease through machine learning. By simply performing simple hand and finger exercises for about one minute in total, it is possible to test for the possibility of cervical myelopathy with an accuracy equal to or greater than that of existing physical examinations by a specialist.
The developed tool will make it possible to screen for the possibility of cervical myelopathy even in environments without specialists. If the test suggests suspected cervical myelopathy, it will encourage consultation with a specialist, leading to early diagnosis and treatment. The ultimate goal is to prevent the decline in physical function and social loss caused by the worsening of the disease.
This research was published in "Spine" on September 24, 2021.
Please see below for the full press release.