Gait-based digital biomarkers to identify dementia types
Official title: Neural mechanisms of gait disturbances as individualized digital biomarker trajectories in preclinical dementia
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11384883 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Stanford will use AI and video analysis to track how people walk and move, to help distinguish different kinds of dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 24, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,679,337 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AG089169-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384883 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals at risk for or living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias who can participate in movement and biomarker-related assessments.
✕Less likely to help
People without dementia or without the ability to perform movement assessments may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to turn everyday movement patterns into meaningful signals that hint at the type and progression of dementia. Researchers will use advanced computer vision and AI to capture gait and hand-movement data from participants, then relate these patterns to known dementia biomarkers. The goal is to create individualized trajectories that could support earlier, more accurate identification and monitoring of Alzheimer’s-related conditions. Participants may contribute by undergoing movement assessments and related evaluations as part of a broader research effort. Results could enable simpler at-home monitoring and more targeted care in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to easier at-home monitoring and earlier distinction between dementia types, guiding personalized treatment plans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show movements like gait and hand motion reflect cognitive changes, but this project focuses on individualized, AI-driven trajectories to differentiate dementia subtypes.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Adeli, Ehsan — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Adeli, Ehsan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Walking and hand-movement patterns as digital clues for early dementia
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This study is looking at how certain brain connections might affect memory and walking problems in people with Parkinson's disease, and it hopes to find clues that could help improve treatments for these challenges.
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Understanding how gait changes can indicate early signs of dementia
This study is looking at how changes in walking might be linked to memory problems in people at risk for Alzheimer's and similar conditions, using smart technology to spot these changes early, so you can take part in easy tests from home to help with early detection and support.
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.