Using speech analysis to identify delirium and predict cognitive decline in older hospitalized adults
Official title: Identifying diagnostic biomarkers for Delirium and predicting cognitive Outcomes in hospitalized older adults using automated Speech Analysis (IDOSA)
Funded at Feinstein Institute for Medical Research · NIH-10806491 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how analyzing the way older adults (75 and up) speak can help doctors spot delirium and predict if they might have memory problems after being in the hospital, all using friendly technology that doesn’t hurt at all.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Feinstein Institute for Medical Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Manhasset, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | September 29, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $439,232 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG082054-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10806491 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are hospitalized older adults aged 75 and above, particularly those showing signs of cognitive impairment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 75 or those who are not hospitalized may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing digital speech biomarkers to diagnose delirium and predict cognitive decline in older adults (75+) who are hospitalized. By analyzing speech patterns through automated speech analysis, the study aims to identify cases of delirium that often go undiagnosed and to determine which patients may experience lasting cognitive impairment after leaving the hospital. The approach is non-invasive and leverages advanced technology to provide objective measures of cognitive health based on speech characteristics. Ultimately, this research seeks to improve early detection and intervention for vulnerable older patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier diagnosis of delirium and better prediction of cognitive outcomes, potentially improving care for older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using speech analysis for diagnosing dementia, but this specific application for delirium is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
Manhasset, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tang, Sunny Xiaojing — Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
- Study coordinator: Tang, Sunny Xiaojing
Related research
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Continuous wearable monitor with AI to prevent agitation and delirium in hospitalized older adults
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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.