Researchers find a link between handwriting and indicators of cognitive impairment

Recent research indicates that the speed and pattern of handwriting may serve as early indicators of cognitive function decline in older adults. The study, reported by Neuroscience News on Wednesday, was published in the journal Neuroscience: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, and conducted by a team of researchers from Portugal examining the relationship between handwriting characteristics and cognitive impairment. Lead researcher Dr. Ana Rita Matias of the University of Évora explained that writing is not merely a motor activity but also involves complex brain processes. In the study, the team involved 58 older adults aged 62 to 92 living in a care home, of whom 38 had been diagnosed with cognitive impairment. Participants were asked to undertake several tasks using a digital pen and a specialised tablet, ranging from drawing lines and dots to writing sentences dictated. However, differences began to emerge when participants performed dictated writing tasks that were more mentally complex. Matias explained that the dictation task forces the brain to perform many processes simultaneously, from listening and language comprehension to holding information in working memory, converting speech into writing, and coordinating hand movements. Some indicators deemed significant included the time to start writing, the number of pen strokes, the vertical size of the handwriting, and the duration of writing. The researchers say these changes relate to reduced working memory and executive control. The team described this method as potentially a practical tool for monitoring cognitive decline, since it only requires a simple writing task and relatively low-cost digital devices. Nevertheless, the researchers stressed that the method is still under development and requires further research with larger and more diverse participant groups. The study did not yet consider the impact of medications on participants’ handwriting. The researchers hope that the technology may eventually become a rapid screening tool to help early detection of cognitive impairment in everyday health services.