Geisinger to Test AI Tool to Identify Cognitive Impairment

The Pennsylvania health system is partnering with a digital health company to test the value of the Passive Digital Marker is detecting early symptoms that may lead to dementia

The Geisinger health system is launching a study on the effectiveness of an AI tool in identifying cognitive impairment that could lead to dementia.

The Pennsylvania health system is teaming up with New Jersey-based Eisai on the project, which will study the value of the Passive Digital Marker on a set of de-identified data to identify which individuals are dealing with cognitive impairment. The algorithm was designed by researchers at Purdue University and Indiana University.

"As we continue to develop new treatments to prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's and related dementias, early detection is becoming even more important," Glen Finney, MD, director of Geisinger's Memory and Cognition Program and a board member of the Greater PA Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, said in a press release. "Early and accurate diagnosis and treatment of these conditions can drastically improve outcomes and quality of life for both patients and caregivers."

More than 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia, and experts predict that number will rise to 78 million by 2030. In addition, some 40-60% of adults with probable dementia are undiagnosed.

Early detection and treatment can help patients improve their quality of life and potentially reduce healthcare costs and poor clinical outcomes later on, especially if the condition isn’t diagnosed. The technology could also help researchers better understand the root causes of dementia and other neurological conditions and aid in better treatments, perhaps even a cure.

"AI technology has the potential to transform medicine," Yasser El-Manzalawy, PhD, a principal investigator in the project and an assistant professor of translational data science and Informatics at Geisinger, said in the press release. "AI-based tools can efficiently scan massive amounts of healthcare data and identify hidden patterns. These patterns can be used to detect diseases, like cancer and dementia, at an early stage. Our data science research team is uniquely positioned to leverage this innovative technology to develop and validate tools to identify patients with unrecognized dementia or patients at high risk of developing dementia in the future."