Walking and hand-movement patterns as digital clues for early dementia
Official title: Neural mechanisms of gait disturbances as individualized digital biomarker trajectories in preclinical dementia
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11196224 · Data updated 2026-11-12
The team will use smartphone and camera recordings plus AI to track walking and hand movements to find early signs of Alzheimer's and related dementias in people before diagnosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 24, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $877,523 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG089169-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11196224 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults, especially those with memory concerns or early cognitive changes, who can walk and are willing to have movement recorded at home or in clinic.
✕Less likely to help
People who are non-ambulatory, have severe mobility impairments, or cannot use or allow video recordings are unlikely to benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
You would have your walking and hand movements recorded during simple tasks at home and in clinic using cameras, smartphones, and 3-D motion tools. Advanced computer-vision and AI methods will convert these movement recordings into personalized digital trajectories that may signal early brain changes linked to Alzheimer's and related dementias. Researchers will compare these movement patterns to known biomarkers and cognitive tests to help distinguish different kinds of dementia and early Mild Cognitive Impairment. The project aims to create easy-to-use, unbiased measures of movement that can be tracked over time without relying on language, education, or complex clinic visits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help detect Alzheimer-related changes earlier and noninvasively so people can be monitored or start interventions sooner.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked slower or irregular gait to cognitive decline, but applying 3-D imaging and AI to create individualized digital biomarker trajectories is a newer and less-tested method.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Adeli, Ehsan — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Adeli, Ehsan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Home-based gait monitoring to spot fall risk in seniors at risk for dementia
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.
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Gait-based digital biomarkers to identify dementia types
A study at Stanford will use AI and video analysis to track how people walk and move, to help distinguish different kinds of dementia.
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Understanding Walking Changes as an Early Sign of Alzheimer's and Dementia
This project looks at how changes in walking patterns might give us early clues about Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
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This study is looking at how getting older affects your brain health, walking, and thinking skills, especially for those who might be starting to have some memory or thinking challenges, to find ways to help improve your quality of life as you age.
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Investigating brain connections related to dementia and walking problems in Parkinson's disease
This study is looking at how certain brain connections might affect memory and walking problems in people with Parkinson's disease, and it hopes to find clues that could help improve treatments for these challenges.
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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.