Features of Facial Expressions in Patients with Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer’s Disease
摘要
Objective. To determine the potential for using an original method for video analysis of facial expression as an aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Materials and methods. The study included a group of healthy individuals (n = 37) and a group of patients (n = 34) with neurocognitive disorder (NCD) due to Alzheimer’s disease. The group of patients was divided into subgroups of those with “minor” NCD (n = 16) and those with “major” NCD (n = 18). The method is based on the recording of 68 key facial points using a contactless method. Analysis of kinetic indexes of eyebrow, eyelid, and mouth movements was conducted as part of the following diagnostic tests: “Smile,” “Making the letter ‘O’ with the lips,” “Blinking,” “Raising eyebrows,” “Frowning,” and “Reading text.” Results. Comparison of healthy individuals with the group of patients in terms of the resulting data on the state of facial expressions revealed a statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the amplitude and speed indexes of eyebrow, eyelid, and mouth movements. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were also found between the two subgroups of patients with NCD in terms of indexes such as “smile frequency,” “eyebrow raising frequency,” and “amplitude of eyebrow raising along the X-axis.” As compared with those with “minor” NCD, patients in the subgroup with “major” NCD showed a lower amplitude of eyebrow raising along the X-axis and a smaller frequency of raising by factors of approximately two, along with a 1.6-fold decrease in the frequency of smiling. Conclusion. The method has promise as a screening and adjunctive diagnostic tool in patients with suspected Alzheimer’s disease. Further study of the technique to determine its diagnostic value is required.