Digital tracking of movement and activity to spot early memory and thinking changes in older adults
Life-Space and Activity Digital Markers for Detection of Cognitive Decline in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: The RAMS Study
This project uses a small GPS device and a wrist activity tracker to find movement and activity patterns that could signal early memory and thinking problems in people aged 65 and older.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11306691 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would wear a wrist activity tracker and carry a small GPS logger so researchers can measure where you go, how long you spend outside, and how active you are in daily life. The study follows people aged 65+ over time and compares those who later develop mild cognitive impairment or dementia with those who do not. Researchers will also ask about social factors like loneliness or social isolation to see how they influence the link between movement patterns and thinking skills. The goal is to create practical digital markers that could signal early decline before clear symptoms appear.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Community-dwelling adults aged 65 or older who are willing and able to wear a wrist activity tracker and carry a small GPS device and attend study visits are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People under 65, those living in long-term care facilities, or individuals unwilling or unable to use wearable/GPS devices would likely not benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help detect early memory and thinking problems sooner so support or interventions can begin earlier to help preserve independence.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked activity and mobility patterns to cognitive decline, but combining continuous GPS life-space tracking with wrist actigraphy for long-term prediction is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Richmond, United States
- Virginia Commonwealth University — Richmond, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sargent, Lana — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Sargent, Lana
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.