Lisbon, May 21 (SANA) A recent study suggests that handwriting patterns in older adults may contain subtle indicators of cognitive decline, raising the possibility that writing analysis could eventually support early screening for neurocognitive disorders.
The findings, reported by Medical Xpress and based on research published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, were led by Professor Anna Rita Matias at the University of Évora in Portugal. The study examined the relationship between handwriting speed, motor control, writing organization and cognitive abilities in older populations.
The researchers assessed 58 care home residents aged between 62 and 92, including 38 individuals who had previously been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. Participants were asked to complete a series of writing tasks using a digital pen, ranging from drawing simple lines and dots to copying and dictating sentences of varying complexity.
The results showed no significant differences between groups in basic motor tasks. However, more demanding dictation exercises revealed clearer distinctions, reflecting the involvement of multiple cognitive processes, such as working memory, language processing and motor coordination.
The researchers concluded that handwriting is not merely a mechanical activity, but rather a reflection of brain function. They suggested that early cognitive changes may be reflected in subtle shifts in writing onset time, execution duration and overall structural organization.
While the study highlights promising indicators, the authors stressed that these measures are not diagnostic in isolation and require further validation before they can be used in a clinical setting.
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