HONG KONG, Feb. 24, 2026 — Researchers at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have developed a novel method to detect early signs of dementia by monitoring cerebral hemodynamics using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS). Led by Professor Chan Sui-Yin Agnes, the team identified high-risk individuals before clinical symptoms appear, potentially transforming early intervention strategies in an ageing city.
The study involved 151 participants divided into six cognitive groups, including normal cognition, amnestic and non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment, and varying degrees of subjective memory complaints. While none of the participants met dementia thresholds under the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, fNIRS readings revealed that some already exhibited abnormal brain oxygenation patterns during increasingly challenging memory tasks.
Researchers found that patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment had significantly lower oxyhemoglobin levels than healthy controls, and individuals with severe subjective memory complaints displayed brain activity patterns similar to those of high-risk groups. These findings suggest that memory complaints, even without measurable cognitive decline, may indicate underlying physiological changes in the brain.
Building on these results, CUHK will launch a three-year free dementia risk assessment research programme in March, targeting 1,000 Hong Kong residents aged 40 and above. Participants will undergo a two-hour evaluation, including standard cognitive testing and fNIRS-based brain function assessment, with feedback provided on potential early interventions.
The research team, which has secured four U.S. patents for its portable fNIRS device, hopes the technology will become a cost-effective tool for preclinical dementia screening. Early detection could allow lifestyle and non-pharmacological interventions to slow disease progression, reducing long-term burdens on families and the healthcare system.
