Using walking and thinking patterns to spot early Alzheimer's risk
Thinking about walking: Can digital phenotyping of mobility improve the prediction of Alzheimer's dementia and inform on the pathologies and proteins contributing to this association?
We will use wearable sensors and short tests of thinking and movement to find early signs of Alzheimer's in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rush University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11101362 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would wear unobtrusive sensors and complete a brief walking and thinking session so researchers can collect detailed movement and attentional data. The team will combine these digital mobility measures with cognitive tests and existing Rush Memory and Aging Project data. They will link the sensor-based patterns to brain changes and proteins known to be involved in Alzheimer's. The goal is to find which walking and thinking metrics best predict who later develops Alzheimer's dementia.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults without dementia who can walk and wear sensors and complete brief cognitive-motor testing.
Not a fit: People with advanced dementia, severe mobility limitations, or who cannot participate in sensor-based or brief testing are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable earlier detection of Alzheimer's risk before memory loss appears, allowing more timely prevention efforts.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research shows changes in walking can predict cognitive decline, but using detailed sensor-based cognitive-motor metrics tied to brain proteins is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Rush University Medical Center — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Buchman, Aron S — Rush University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Buchman, Aron S
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.