Biomarkers for depression

We're still absolutely thrilled! After a long period of application and preparation, we've finally received the go-ahead for our next big project— biomarkers for depression . Thanks to the Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, we're receiving government funding to bring our vision a little closer to reality. But what's it all about?

Mental health conditions such as depression have gained increasing attention in recent years. Awareness of this once taboo subject is gradually increasing. Especially now, during the coronavirus crisis, mental health is more important than ever. Looking at concrete figures, approximately 27.8% of the entire adult German population is affected by a mental illness each year. However, this only includes reported cases; the number of unreported cases is significantly higher.

The project

Our goal, together with Heilbronn University, is to develop an objective method that will allow for the more targeted, earlier, and more reliable diagnosis of mental health conditions such as depression. The key word here is biomarkers . These are measurable indicators that can confirm the presence of a disease. We are all familiar with biomarkers from blood tests and laboratory tests. However, objective measurements are rarely used for mental health conditions.

Some physicians already use EEG data to support diagnosis, but the assessment is usually purely subjective and requires considerable practice. Furthermore, it only works well in clear-cut cases. Therefore, many primary care physicians, who are often the first patients with depression to see, lack the necessary equipment and expertise. This is where we come in.

The goal of the project is to develop a diagnostic system that will generate an automatic evaluation based on measured brain waves with the help of trained artificial intelligence. A reduced-scale medical EEG system will be used for this purpose. Upon request, we offer practices a leasing model for the devices, as a fully-fledged EEG device costs about as much as a mid-range car. The widespread availability of our system is a key aspect of its development.

The generated report should enable us, and our colleagues in the future, to intervene earlier and create better treatment options. The possibility of making a diagnosis at the early stages of the disease can significantly minimize the risk of treatment delays and incorrect treatment.

It will take another 2-3 years until everything runs as planned. But the first step has been taken!

If you would like to learn more about EEG and neurofeedback , you will find a wealth of information on these topics on our website.