New Delhi, Oct 28
Scanning MRI of a person’s tongue may help in the early detection and ongoing monitoring of Motor Neurone Disease (MND), a neurodegenerative disease, according to a study.
Researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia found that people living with MND, also known as ALS, who have difficulty speaking or swallowing tend to have smaller tongue muscles.
This could serve as an early indication of neurodegenerative disease, said Dr Thomas Shaw from the varsity’s School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
“There are eight interconnected muscles in our tongues, each with a different role, allowing us to eat, swallow, and speak. But for someone with a motor neuron disease, the tongue muscles -- like many others in the body -- progressively weaken and sadly, waste away,” Shaw said.
“Being able to detect and track this symptom early would help patients and clinicians, especially with interventions like early access to clinical trials,” he added.