(33) Parkinson's detection (part 2): ok, let's face it!

Acknowledging our presence: faces and 'phones 

Human presence used to be a key factor in communication between people before we had video conferencing then Covid and now "Zoom".

Whilst working in the Zululand region of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) I discovered some things about the traditional isiZulu greeting. Firstly, upon seeing a person I would say "Sawubona!" which, loosely translated means "I see you". This formal greeting acknowledges one's physical presence rather than, for instance, in English, establishing the time of day, saying your name and checking on the person's health ("Good morning/evening. I'm Ari. How are you?"). 

I used to fly regularly between Gauteng and KZN and noted a few times that airways check-in staff, who are trained to engage passengers, would look at my face and ask why I was angry. My response was that I was tired. It was inappropriate to describe Parkinson's Disease (PD) or hypomimia. 

A few months ago I acquired a new mobile 'phone. It allows me to log in either by using a personal identity number or via the 'phone's camera that matches my "live" face with that stored in the device and can include fingerprint access. Such use of my unique characteristics - a few are the face, eyes, hand, fingerprints - to control access through identity is known as biometrics. Erin Smith has been researching this aspect and its impact on PD. Let's connect the dots, dear reader.

PD: some approaches to treatment  

Since James Parkinson's work in 1817 (see Post 24) many attempts were made to find a cure for PD. The actual link between dopamine and Parkinson's was only made in 1957 and a dopamine substitute in the form of L-Dopa/levodopa was first used on people with PD in 1961 but without conclusive results. In 1967, a New York neuropharmacologist called George Cotzias started experimenting with L-Dopa and PD and there was much interest in his published results. Although a link had been made between dopamine and PD, they were still searching for the appropriate dose.

In Post 32 we looked at Joy Milne's hypersomnia and her being able to detect people with PD by smelling their clothes. She was even able to detect people with PD before their diagnosis. This has led to secondary research into PD where artificial intelligence (AI) is being built into an E-Nose in an attempt to "smell" skin. Sounds fantastical but is AI that intelligent? 

AI is a fast-growing industry. Computer programs are now even able to mimic our driving style and speed and replicate it exactly on the same route. This capacity was demonstrated on a British car programme Top Car a few years ago. So what can AI do in 2022 for the people with PD that drugs can't: it might be able to detect rather than to prescribe! And, it's all about people with PD and their faces: I see you...

Early detection of PD using software

Erin Smith is in her early twenties and has been a keen researcher and entrepreneur since high school. On 24 May 2022 she was nominated as one of three finalists for the European Patent Office (EPO) award for her work on early detection of PD via facial recognition software, "FacePrint", that she has developed. The context of the award is fascinating, as indicated below in the EPO blurb on her.

"...shortly after starting high school, inquisitive young Smith watched a YouTube video of Michael J. Fox, a high-profile Parkinson's patient who showed the facial expression trait known as "mask face". She began to question whether facial expressions could be analysed to monitor changes in the brain. Smith learned to code and began working on what would later become FacePrint, an AI-powered application that records facial expressions and uses computer vision to accurately detect minute indicators of early-onset Parkinson's."

Erin Smith believes that early detection is a key factor in providing appropriate support and intervention in the life of  a person with PD. She estimates that by the time a diagnosis is done and treatment provided for those with PD, they could have already lost more than 50% of their dopamine. So, instead of telling you more about her, dear reader, do watch her in a five minute videoclip where she tells her story. Her enthusiasm is infectious. The EPO Awards ceremony will be held on 21 June 2022.   

The face of PD

Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's Disease in 1991. I read his last novel "No time like the Future" and reviewed it in Post 20. There is a picture of him in that post, but to support Erin Smith's theory, here are two book covers showing what sparked her interest and research. Compare faces in "Comeback" published in German in 2002 and "No time like..." published in 2020. Till next time...