Digital mobility markers to predict Alzheimer's dementia
Official title: Thinking about walking: Can digital phenotyping of mobility improve the prediction of Alzheimer's dementia and inform on the pathologies and proteins contributing to this association?
Funded at Rush University Medical Center · NIH-11395250 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study using wearable sensors to track movement and cognitive-mobility data aims to better predict who will develop Alzheimer's dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rush University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $722,580 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG079133-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395250 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years or older who are at risk for or have Alzheimer’s disease dementia, participating in the Rush Memory and Aging Project or similar cohorts.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not have or are not at risk for Alzheimer’s dementia may not benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This project will collect and analyze unobtrusive mobility and cognitive metrics from adults to identify which digital mobility signals best forecast progression to Alzheimer's dementia. By using novel sensor data, the team hopes to uncover brain pathologies and proteins that connect mobility changes with disease risk. The approach includes a single testing session enhanced with cognitive-mobility measurements to improve prediction accuracy. The findings could help clinicians identify at-risk individuals earlier and tailor preventive strategies. Participants will contribute data from routine activities and sensor-based assessments over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to earlier identification of people at risk for Alzheimer's dementia and inform personalized prevention or treatment plans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown mobility changes can relate to cognitive decline, but this project advances the use of digital mobility phenotyping to improve prediction in Alzheimer's dementia.
Where this research is happening
-
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Buchman, Aron S — Rush University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Buchman, Aron S
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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.