Home-based gait monitoring to spot fall risk in seniors at risk for dementia
Official title: Home-based dual-task gait assessment for older adults at risk of dementia
Funded at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged · NIH-11452676 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A home-based smartphone app will track daily walking patterns in people 65 and older, especially those with mild cognitive impairment, to identify when they are at higher risk of falling.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 18, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $318,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03AG095709-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11452676 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ambulatory adults aged 65 and older, including those with mild cognitive impairment, who can use a smartphone and participate in home-based assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals unable to safely perform home gait assessments or those without smartphone access may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project follows older adults, including those with MCI, as they use a smartphone to regularly measure how they walk at home. Participants will complete initial in-clinic assessments and then perform daily gait checks at home for two weeks, with weekly updates for a year. The goal is to detect short-term changes in gait that signal an increased fall risk so caregivers and clinicians can intervene sooner. The study will compare people with MCI to those without to see if gait changes differ by cognitive status. All activities center on home-based monitoring with in-person follow-up visits as needed.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could allow earlier detection of fall risk and prompt interventions to prevent falls and protect cognitive health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous pilot studies show smartphone-based gait tracking can reflect changes in mobility, but this project tests daily home measurements for fall-risk prediction.
Where this research is happening
-
Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lo, on-Yee Amy — Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged
- Study coordinator: Lo, on-Yee Amy
Related research
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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.