United Kingdom, Sept. 16 -- A basic test could detect signs of Alzheimer's disease years before diagnosis.

Fastball, a tool that scans the brainwaves of a patient, has shown for the first time that such a test could be carried out at home and reliably reveal signs of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition that can sometimes lead to Alzheimer's.

Researchers at the University of Bath say that Fastball is a promising, simple and non-invasive method to check the memories of those with early signs of MCI without the need for a doctor or specialist.

Dr. George Stothart, a cognitive neuroscientist at the university, said: "We're missing the first 10 to 20 years of Alzheimer's with current diagnostic tools.

"There's an urgent need for a...