Digital memory checks to catch Alzheimer's early using remote tests
Official title: Digital memory assessment for early detection and monitoring of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11448128 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study tests new at-home digital memory tests to detect and monitor early signs of Alzheimer’s disease in adults 21 and older, aiming to catch changes before dementia develops.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $771,288 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG096450-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448128 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with or at risk for Alzheimer’s disease across the early stages and access to mobile devices for remote testing.
✕Less likely to help
Some individuals with other types of cognitive impairment or severe comorbidities may not benefit from this AD-specific remote testing approach.
What this research studies
This project will enroll 400 older adults across early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and a control group to compare remote digital memory tests with standard assessments. Researchers will use unsupervised, mobile-friendly cognitive tasks focused on the medial temporal lobe to see if they can more accurately detect stage and track progression over time. The team will validate how well these remote tests perform in real-world clinical settings and with existing biomarker information. If successful, the approach could make early screening more accessible and convenient for people at risk or in the early stages of AD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the tests prove accurate, patients could benefit from earlier detection and closer monitoring using convenient remote tools.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary remote cognitive testing has shown promise, but validation against AD-specific biomarkers and stages is still needed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clark, Lindsay Renee — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Clark, Lindsay Renee
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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.