Precision brain health monitoring to spot Alzheimer's risk in Framingham participants
Precision Brain Health Monitoring for Alzheimer's Disease Risk Detection in the Framingham Study
This project uses noninvasive digital tests and sensors to detect early brain changes linked to Alzheimer's risk in middle-aged Framingham Heart Study participants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310147 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to take part in digital tests and wear or use sensors during your routine Framingham exam to collect speech, cognitive, movement, and other digital signals. Researchers will link those digital signals to established Alzheimer's markers (like amyloid measures) and to participant health and genetic risk information. The goal is to find digital signs that match up with biological measures so detection can be earlier, cheaper, and easier to scale. Most of the work is designed to fit into the Generation 3 and Omni Generation 2 fourth exam visits for Framingham participants.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are middle-aged adults enrolled in the Framingham Heart Study Generation 3 or Omni Generation 2 cohorts who are returning for their fourth health exam, including those with genetic risk factors like APOE ε4.
Not a fit: People with advanced symptomatic Alzheimer's, those not enrolled in the Framingham cohorts, or those unable to use digital devices are unlikely to participate or benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow earlier, low-cost detection of Alzheimer's risk using simple digital tools so people can access care or prevention sooner.
How similar studies have performed: Related digital biomarker studies have shown promising early results but remain relatively new and are still being validated against gold-standard amyloid tests.
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.