Using digital signals from movement, sleep, and heart rhythms to find early signs of Alzheimer's and related dementias
Novel application of Digital signals of movement, sleep and heart rhythms for detection of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
This project explores how digital information from your daily movements, sleep patterns, and heartbeats can help us find early signs of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11132722 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project aims to find early signs of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) before symptoms become obvious. Researchers believe that changes in movement, sleep, and heart rhythms might be early indicators of these conditions. They will use wearable devices to collect digital information on these patterns from over 1000 older adults. This data will be combined with cognitive tests and brain scans to develop new, easy-to-use tools for detecting ADRD risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project focuses on older adults who are already participating in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Neurocognitive Study.
Not a fit: Patients not currently enrolled in the ARIC Neurocognitive Study would not directly benefit from this specific data collection effort.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new, non-invasive, and affordable ways to detect Alzheimer's disease and related dementias much earlier, allowing for timely interventions.
How similar studies have performed: Emerging research suggests links between digital signals and brain health, but this project aims to fill knowledge gaps by integrating these signals more comprehensively.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schrack, Jennifer Ann — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Schrack, Jennifer Ann
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.