![]() Lin is fascinated with melding technology with medicine to identify cognitive decline, a passion fostered during the 11 years he worked for the Framingham Heart Study, a groundbreaking effort to study cardiovascular disease that started in 1948 and continues with the current generation of the study's original set of participants. In a rapidly evolving AI world where technologies move at lightning speed, Lin acknowledged this current iteration of Linus Health’s AI may need updating in the future. But he stressed that information gathered in the testing phases will stand the test of time and allow for easy transition to updates, if needed. Results from the 150 patients in the UMass Chan/Linus Health study will be analyzed, and results could lead to a broader clinical trial to test the technology, said Lin. The Alzheimer's Association cited a 2012 private survey of more than 1,000 adults 65 and older that showed only one-third of respondents heard of the benefit, and only 17% had a wellness visit. Less than a third (28%) of seniors have ever been assessed for cognitive problems, and one in seven (16%) receives regular cognitive assessments for problems with memory or thinking during routine health checkups.Īnother opportunity to detect early cognitive decline is the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit.94% of seniors have seen a primary care physician for routine exams in the last year, but fewer than half (47%)have ever discussed their thinking or memory abilities with a health care provider.By 2060, cases could jump to 14 million, and Alzheimer’s falls among the 10 leading causes of death in the U.S.Ī 2019 study by the Alzheimer's Association showed there's work to do to get more senior citizens screened for cognitive impairment. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Staggering numbersĪlzheimer’s is linked to staggering numbers – an estimated 6 million Americans 65 and older in 2020 have the disease, according to the U.S. "This is helpful," said Subramanian of AI's potential for early detection. Often the topic is discussed too late in disease progression, said Subramanian, after a patient or family notices the decline. That came as a relief since O’Neill’s brother died last year from early onset Alzheimer’s. Heredity is one potential predictor of contracting the disease. In another exam room near Harrison's, patient Janet O’Neill was in a buoyant mood, as the 66-year-old Mashpee resident revealed that her AI test results had showed no apparent signs of cognitive decline. AI not only captures that information but also pools the results from all study participants to identify trends that could unlock patterns in early cognitive decline, said Lin.īesides the clock test, patients recall three words at the end of the exam to gauge memory, take a 32-question lifestyle survey on topics like diet and exercise, and receive a brain health action plan based on their answers to the questions. For example, if someone doesn’t get enough exercise or smokes tobacco – habits that can be linked to cognitive decline – their primary care doctor can recommend lifestyle changes to improve brain health.īesides increased objectivity, Lin explained that the AI exam is faster, compared to a traditional exam that can take several hours to finish. Results arrive in minutes, not hours or days, giving patients and their primary care doctors immediate information to develop action plans. The earlier the signs are brought out in the open, the sooner they can be addressed, potentially slowing down the disease’s progression, according to medical experts.Ī partnership between UMass Chan Medical School and Boston-based Linus Health, a digital health company, hopes to test 150 patients through this summer. The patients are arranged through primary care doctors at UMass Memorial Health.Ī traditional test might miss subtle imperfections in the lines drawn or placement of numbers in the clock. Harrison is one of dozens of patients participating in a study using AI to identify early signs of cognitive decline that could be linked to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. That’s the most frustrating aspect of it,” said Harrison, who was eager to know if his exam will identify possible reasons for his memory struggles. “An inability to remember names that I should remember. “I’m interested in knowing the results,” said Harrison, who revealed he’s having moments when it’s hard to remember people's names. There were elements of the traditional human touch in his upcoming exam, but the main part was done by artificial intelligence. Harrison, a 79-year-old retired cardiac surgeon at UMass Memorial Health, looked dapper in a suit and tie while sitting in one of the hospital’s examination rooms. Lynn Harrison wasn’t caring for patients. He was the patient.
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