Simple handwriting tests may reveal early signs of cognitive decline, according to a new study from the University of Évora in Portugal.
Researchers studied 58 elderly participants-38 with diagnosed cognitive impairment, 20 without-and found distinct differences in how they wrote during a voice dictation task. Those with cognitive issues took longer per stroke, used more strokes, and wrote smaller.
"Writing is not just a motor activity, it's a window into the brain," said kinesiologist Ana Rita Matias. Tasks requiring listening, memory, and motor coordination exposed the decline.
The findings suggest handwriting could become a low-cost, accessible early screening tool for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. Larger studies are needed to confirm the results.
