INFORMATION NOTE Barcelona, 20th May 2025

STARLAB agreement – ACE ALZHEIMER CENTER BARCELONA

Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona and Starlab obtain promising results for the detection of Alzheimer’s using a non-invasive neurotechnology helmet

• The study reveals brain alterations in early stages, before clinical symptoms are visible, improving early diagnosis
• Innovative low-cost device designed by Starlab will enable early detection of Alzheimer’s in health centers and hospitals

The Catalan company Starlab, in collaboration with Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona, have presented key results that could transform early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. The joint study, based on analysis of brain activity by electroencephalography (EEG), shows that it is possible to identify alterations in working memory at very early stages of the disease, even before clinically relevant symptoms appear.

The study focused on three distinct groups of participants. First, people with subjective memory complaints (SCD); on the other hand, people with mild cognitive impairment without Alzheimer’s biomarkers (MCI-); and finally, people with mild impairment but positive biomarkers (MCI+). The results conclude a significant reduction in a brain marker related to working memory (PNwm) in the MCI+ group, indicating that the brain begins to fail long before a clinical diagnosis.

These advances have been achieved thanks to the development of an innovative device designed by the startup Starlab. It is a helmet equipped with EEG sensors and artificial intelligence technology, capable of detecting altered brain signals in a non-invasive way, quickly and at low cost.

“The device we have developed allows to perform cognitive screenings with great precision, quickly, non-invasive and without causing discomfort to the patient. This represents a paradigm shift in how we approach early detection of Alzheimer’s. Thanks to its low cost and ease of use, we aim for it to be implemented in all types of health centers, from specialized hospitals to primary care consultations” says Aureli Soria-Frisch, director of Starlab.

For his part, Xavier Morató director of clinical trials at Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona asserts: “These results bring us closer to a scenario where early detection of Alzheimer’s will be more accessible and less invasive. The collaboration with Starlab allows us to validate new tools with a solid scientific basis, which could facilitate diagnosis from very early stages, when intervention is most effective. Our goal is to democratize access to early diagnosis, facilitating more effective interventions and thus improving the quality of life for those affected.”

The project promoted by Starlab, in collaboration with Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona, has received support from the Government of the Generalitat de Catalunya through ACCIÓ, the agency for competitiveness of the Department of Business and Labor, by means of an aid of EUR 135240 from the funding line of the Tecniospring INDUSTRY programme.

Alzheimer Center Barcelona, a pioneering model in the world of Alzheimer’s

Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona, an innovative and leading entity in Spain, was founded in 1995 with the aim of meeting the growing demand for diagnosis and treatment of people with cognitive impairment and dementia, especially Alzheimer’s. It offers personalized care and comprehensive support to patients and their families with a model of care based on telemedicine that allows ensuring the care and support for all people with Alzheimer’s and their relatives from any point in the territory.
Each year, its Diagnostic Unit serves about 9,000 people, of whom more than 4,000 suffer from dementia (3,000 of them, Alzheimer’s type). The early diagnosis of dementia is a priority for Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona, so it promotes free memory tests, also online through FACEmemory®. Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona is considered one of the international references in research, especially clinical, neuropsychological, social and basic. Among other research activities, Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona participates in numerous clinical trials of global participation aimed at all stages of the disease. Therefore, he has led two research projects funded by the European Union on Alzheimer’s genetics (ADAPTED) and on active patient participation models (MOPEAD).

For more information

Marta Martín: marta.martin.ext@weareboth.com / 637 75 50 06

Isabel Rodríguez: irodriguez@fundacioace.org / 93 444 73 18

www.fundacioace.org