Early Diagnosis of ADRD Webinars

Upcoming Webinar – Best Practices for Digital Phenotyping Research in Aging Populations

Zoom Registration: https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/meeting/register/DOlht6o5Q3OkTNaeWzNF4A Abstract: Digital phenotyping is transforming aging research by enabling high-frequency, real-world measurement of cognition, behavior, symptoms, and context through smartphones, wearables, and passive sensing technologies. This talk will review how digital health tools can complement traditional clinic-based assessments by capturing intraindividual variability, diurnal patterns, environmental influences, and subtle changes in cognitive and functional performance that may signal risk for neurodegenerative disease. Using examples from studies of healthy aging, MCI, Alzheimer’s disease risk, dementia caregiving, and related clinical populations, the talk will highlight best practices for designing digital phenotyping protocols, balancing participant burden with data richness, maximizing adherence, integrating active cognitive assessments with passive data streams and biomarkers, and applying analytic approaches that distinguish within-person change from between-person differences. The session will emphasize opportunities for digital phenotyping to improve early detection, clinical trial…

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Webinar – Novel Technological Approaches for Detection of Cognitive and Functional Impairment: Drs. Larsen, Stamps, and Milburn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQhT0iakfYE 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…

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Past Webinar – Digital Cognitive Assessments in Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease, Kate Papp

https://youtu.be/EpOYQnm0oJY?si=U0nU7Ao-LGkH30RC Abstract: Traditional paper-based cognitive assessments, while the current gold standard in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), lack the sensitivity and ecological validity needed to detect subtle cognitive changes in preclinical stages. Dr. Kate Papp’s work highlights cutting-edge approaches leveraging digital technologies—ranging from AI-analyzed speech and digital pens to ecological momentary assessments and learning curve paradigms. Her team’s development of the Boston Remote Assessment for Neurocognitive Health (BRANCH) demonstrates how multi-day, web-based testing on participants’ own devices can identify diminished learning effects over days—correlating with AD biomarkers and predicting cognitive decline. This talk also addresses validation challenges, participant adherence, and data privacy considerations crucial for adoption in clinical trials. These insights underscore the potential of digital cognitive measures to accelerate early detection, improve trial efficiency, and support Alzheimer’s prevention efforts globally. Biography: Kathryn V.…

Continue ReadingPast Webinar – Digital Cognitive Assessments in Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease, Kate Papp

Past Webinar – Technology Use in Alzheimer’s Disease Research: Current Status & Future Promise, Rhoda Au

https://youtu.be/sXAMmZZ5YEM?si=d5QDssWNCXVmchEP Abstract: Digital technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to revolutionize cognitive health monitoring and Alzheimer’s disease prevention. Current high-burden, clinic-based assessments can be augmented by passive engagement technologies—leveraging smartphones and their array of embedded sensors for continuous, unobtrusive data collection. At the Framingham Heart Study and BU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, multi-sensor approaches combining smartphone applications, digital voice, eye-tracking, and in-home monitoring are being deployed to detect subtle cognitive and behavioral changes. Through the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative, a global minimal viable protocol has been launched, integrating digital and blood-based biomarkers across diverse populations. Data sharing via the Alzheimer’s Disease Data Initiative (ADDI) is accelerating discovery through open challenges and collaborative analytics. This paradigm shift emphasizes inclusivity, rethinking traditional study designs, and advancing from digital phenotyping to truly dynamic, multi-dimensional digital biomarkers. The long-term goal is early…

Continue ReadingPast Webinar – Technology Use in Alzheimer’s Disease Research: Current Status & Future Promise, Rhoda Au