Digital monitoring of early memory and thinking changes
Digital Cognitive Assessment of Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
['FUNDING_R01'] · BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS · NIH-11310846
This project uses smartphone apps, a digital pen, and voice recordings to track thinking and memory over time for people at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11310846 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would join Boston University's Alzheimer’s cohort and use easy digital tools—a smartphone app, a smart pen, and voice recordings—to provide short cognitive tasks at home and during visits. The project links these digital results with existing PET, CSF, blood biomarkers, MRI, medical history, and traditional paper-and-pencil tests already collected by the center. Researchers will look for patterns in the digital data that line up with biological signs of Alzheimer’s and changes in everyday thinking. Participation may include periodic clinic visits and regular remote use of the devices.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults in the BU Alzheimer's research cohort or people with Alzheimer's risk factors or mild memory concerns who can use smartphone and pen-based tasks.
Not a fit: People with advanced dementia or with severe hearing, speech, vision, or motor problems that prevent using the digital tools, or those unwilling to share medical or biomarker data, may not benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tools could detect early thinking changes sooner and help guide prevention or treatment before dementia becomes severe.
How similar studies have performed: Related digital-monitoring approaches have shown promising early results but remain relatively new and need larger, biomarker-linked studies for confirmation.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: AU, RHODA — BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS
- Study coordinator: AU, RHODA
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.