This is part of the monthly MassAITC webinar series.
Abstract:
This webinar explored cutting-edge technologies aimed at improving early detection and monitoring of cognitive and functional impairments in older adults. Dr. Kate Papp (Mass General Brigham) opened the session by highlighting the challenges of traditional clinical assessments—lengthy, labor-intensive, and inaccessible to many—and the promise of scalable, remote, and ecologically valid digital tools to address the growing needs of an aging population.
Three MassAITC pilot awardees presented innovative approaches:
- Dr. Eric Larson (Sonde Health) discussed testing a vocal biomarker platform that leverages AI to detect and monitor cognitive impairment via smartphone-based voice samples collected in home environments. Early findings show high participant engagement and promising accuracy in distinguishing cognitive status.
- Dr. Jennifer Stamps (Rendever) shared progress on a multimodal virtual reality (VR) fitness platform that combines physical exercise, cognitive stimulation, and social engagement. The platform captures rich sensor data—including movement, gaze, and facial expressions—to remotely assess cognitive and functional health.
- Dr. Michael Milburn (Impairment Science) presented the Druid app, a mobile tool that assesses cognitive-motor impairment relevant to driving performance. Designed for use by older adults, the app measures reaction time, decision-making, coordination, and balance. Validation studies indicate sensitivity to impairments from fatigue, concussion, and neurodegenerative changes.
A panel discussion with Dr. Rhoda Au (Boston University) addressed barriers to widespread adoption, including data privacy concerns, user acceptability, and integration into clinical workflows. Presenters emphasized the importance of validating these technologies in real-world environments to ensure accuracy, usability, and patient trust.