Here’s how scientists are studying Parkinson’s disease using robots

Scientists are utilizing robots for a deeper understanding of hallucinations experienced by Parkinson's disease patients. Here's what you need to know.

The EPFL study utilizes two robots to induce a "presence hallucination" in the participant. The participant pokes the front robot. After a slight delay, the back robot pokes the participant. This triggers a presence hallucination.

The participant then wears a VR headset showing a room filled with people. The tendency to overestimate the number of people in a room, a natural evolutionary response to a potential threat, is more pronounced in patients with Parkinson's.

It can manifest even before tremors or stiffness, potentially signaling cognitive decline and the need for early intervention.

Parkinson's disease affects over 8.5 million people worldwide. Non-communicable diseases cause a staggering 41 million deaths globally each year, with 29 million of these occurring in low- and middle-income countries.

This research holds promise for earlier identification of patients at risk for cognitive decline and the development of improved treatment options.