FACE Phase II: Facial-expression personalization for at-home cognitive training

A Facial Expression-based Personalization Engine (FPE) for Monitoring and Modulating Real-time Effective Engagement in Cognitive Training in Older Adults at Risk for AD/ADRD (CogT FACE Study Phase II)

Phase1; Phase2 Interventional Stanford University · NCT07130669

This project tests whether a facial-expression personalization system can track and adjust real-time engagement to improve adherence to home-based computerized cognitive training for older adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease.

Quick facts

PhasePhase1; Phase2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment80 (estimated)
Ages60 Years to 89 Years
SexAll
SponsorStanford University Academic / other
Locations1 site (Palo Alto, California)
Trial IDNCT07130669 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The trial tests a novel facial expression–based personalization engine (FPE) that uses cameras to detect markers of mental fatigue and engagement during unsupervised, at-home computerized cognitive training. The FPE is designed to modulate task novelty in real time to sustain attention, enjoyment, and effective engagement, with the goal of improving long-term adherence. Participants are older adults at risk for AD/ADRD (including MCI, subjective cognitive decline, or mild behavioral impairment) who will use the training at home while the system collects engagement metrics. Outcomes include adherence to the training regimen and measures of cognitive performance and engagement.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are English-speaking adults aged 60–89 with MCI, subjective cognitive decline, or mild behavioral impairment who live at home or in independent/assisted living, have adequate vision and hearing, and have stable psychiatric and memory medications as specified.

Not a fit: Patients living in nursing homes or diagnosed with dementia, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, chronic heart failure, or those enrolled in another cognitive intervention, as well as non-English speakers or those with severe sensory impairments, are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could increase long-term adherence to at-home cognitive training and thereby improve or preserve cognitive function in at-risk older adults.

How similar studies have performed: Prior pilot work suggests facial markers relate to mental fatigue and engagement, but a real-time personalization engine for improving long-term adherence in unsupervised training is novel and not yet validated at scale.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. English speaking
2. Aged 60-89
3. Living in a home, or independent- or assisted-living facility
4. Adequate visual and hearing acuity
5. Anti-depressants, antipsychotics, and/or anxiolytics have been stable for at least 7 days
6. Memory medications have been stable for at least 3 months
7. Absence of neurological/vascular disorder (For neurological disorders with minor symptoms check with PI on case-by-case basis)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. be enrolled in another intervention study aimed at improving cognition
2. live in nursing home
3. diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, TBI, chronic heart failure, Parkinson's disease, dementia

Where this trial is running

Palo Alto, California

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions MCISubjective Cognitive DeclineMild Behavioral Impairment
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.