We do not use only our hands when writing. The brain is also involved in processing information, remembering words, and controlling movements.
For this reason, changes in the way we write may provide insights into the state of the brain, according to SciTechDaily.
Researchers from the University of Évora in Portugal examined this possibility in a new study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
Testing older adults
The study included 58 people aged between 62 and 92 who were living in nursing homes. Of these, 38 had already been diagnosed with some form of cognitive impairment.
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Participants completed various writing tasks on a digital tablet using a pen. Some were asked to draw lines and dots, while others were instructed to write sentences.
However, the researchers found no clear differences between the groups when the tasks involved only simple movements or copying text.
Dictation
The most significant differences emerged in tasks where participants were required to write from dictation.
This type of task requires the brain to listen, understand language, retain information, and control hand movements at the same time.
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In these exercises, individuals with cognitive impairment took longer to begin writing and generally wrote more slowly.
The researchers therefore believe that digital dictation tasks could become a simple and inexpensive tool for detecting or monitoring the progression of cognitive decline.
However, they emphasize that larger studies are needed before the method can be used in routine healthcare.
Sources: SciTechDaily and Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
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