Overview

• The Fastball test uses a quick, passive EEG to record automatic brain responses while people view rapid image streams at home.
• In a peer‑reviewed trial of 52 people with mild cognitive impairment and 54 healthy adults, those with amnestic MCI showed markedly reduced responses.
• All assessments were conducted in participants’ homes, and re‑testing after one year showed moderate to good reliability in healthy older adults.
• Experts caution the tool is a screening method rather than a standalone diagnosis, as it does not distinguish Alzheimer’s from other causes of cognitive decline.
• Study authors report that large validation trials in the UK and US are under way through 2027, which will guide whether the test can help identify candidates for early‑stage treatments.