Better Ways to Find Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early Dementia in Home Healthcare
Development of a Screening Algorithm for Timely Identification of Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early Dementia in Home Healthcare
This project creates a new tool to help home healthcare nurses quickly identify older adults who might have mild cognitive impairment or early dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171621 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many older adults with mild cognitive impairment or early dementia are not diagnosed in time, especially those receiving care at home. This happens because symptoms can be hard to spot early, and healthcare providers often don't have enough time for detailed assessments. Our goal is to build a smart computer program that uses information already collected during home healthcare visits, like electronic health records and conversations between patients and nurses, to flag those who might need further evaluation. This new tool aims to make it easier and faster to identify these conditions, helping patients get the care they need sooner.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is relevant for older adults receiving home healthcare services who may be at risk for or experiencing mild cognitive impairment or early dementia.
Not a fit: Patients without cognitive concerns or those not receiving home healthcare services would not directly benefit from this specific screening algorithm.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment for mild cognitive impairment and early dementia, improving quality of life and reducing healthcare costs for affected patients.
How similar studies have performed: While some tools exist for cognitive screening, this approach is novel in combining multiple data streams, including verbal communication, specifically within the home healthcare setting.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zolnoori, Maryam — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Zolnoori, Maryam
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.