“AI is set to transform dementia care”: Blood biomarkers, cognitive assessments, and monitoring top of agenda at historic dementia summit

AI has the potential to transform dementia detection, diagnosis, and care, especially through cognitive assessments, blood biomarkers, and in-home caregiving technologies, say Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI).

Questions on how AI can be used for dementia detection, diagnosis and care will be explored by leading dementia technology researchers and experts, including CEO of Cognes Ms Sandra Challma and Supersense Technologies co-founder James Brown, at the at the historic Alzheimer’s Disease International Global Conference 2024 in Kraków this week.

“AI opens up new possibilities for dementia care, bringing hope to over 55 million people globally affected by the condition and their caregivers. It heralds new methods for detection, diagnosis, and technology-driven autonomy and caregiving support and may also help to reduce the annual 1.3 trillion dollar costs for care and support,” says Paola Barbarino, CEO of ADI.

Detection and diagnosis

CEO of Cognes Ms Sandra Challma, will be speaking at the ADI Global Conference this week on ways AI potentially enables the early detection of dementia through behavioural monitoring.

“AI can transform early dementia detection by analyzing vast amounts of data from various sources, including brain imaging and everyday behaviors captured through smart devices.

“Dementia presents unique challenges compared to other medical conditions due to its multifactorial nature, involving complex interplay between genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.

“Dementia diagnosis often relies on subjective assessments of cognitive function and behavior. Recent advancements in AI technology have significantly accelerated progress in dementia diagnosis, enabling the identification of subtle cognitive decline before clinical symptoms appear,” she says.

AI introduces a groundbreaking approach to dementia detection by analysing blood biomarkers, specifically amyloid and tau proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease.

ADI’s co-Chief Scientific  Advisor and global leading dementia expert, Professor Dame Louise Robbinson, says the current research suggests the pathogens leading to dementia begin decades before the first cognitive symptoms, which AI could be used to identify early.

“AI excels in identifying patterns in complex data, providing an ideal opportunity to detect dementia blood biomarkers, and moving us towards more precise and early interventions and diagnoses. This will be essential as new therapies emerge with regularly approval specifically to treat early Alzheimer’s disease"

AI-supported in-home caregiving

AI applications are also being tested in dementia care, including the use of monitoring systems in homes or care facilities.

Engineering researcher and co-founder of Supersense Technologies, James Brown will also be speaking at the global Alzheimer’s conference this week on the use of AI in dementia caregiving.

“By 2040 the number of caregivers in OECD countries will need to increase by 60 per cent to maintain the current level of support,” he says.

“AI can play a vital role in alleviating some of the pressure on caregivers, by offering digital support in the home, especially when designed collaboratively with people living with dementia.”

Brown says AI monitoring systems could detect subtle changes in behaviour or emotional state, which are crucial for early intervention and personalised care plans.

“By monitoring subtle changes in behaviour and delivering insights in natural language, this type of advanced technology will allow carers to preempt crises and focus on meaningful support, enhancing the quality of life for people living with dementia.

“This approach ensures that technology is not just a tool, but a part of creating a supportive environment that allows individuals to retain their independence and live safely in their homes for longer.”

People living with dementia must play a role in designing caregiving solutions

Paola Barbarino stresses the invaluable role of human caregivers, and the voice of people living with dementia in creating these new care solutions.

“Ethical, privacy, and adoption challenges of AI usage in healthcare has been an ongoing challenge. We understand these concerns might be more pronounced for dementia patients where there may be increased risk around understanding and consenting to technology use,” she says.

Barbarino continues, “New dementia caregiving technologies must be designed collaboratively with people living with dementia, to ensure it is fit for purpose, and user friendly.”

“There are also concerns around the impact of AI and financial fraud, resulting in increased and more sophisticated scams. Those living with dementia are already vulnerable to fraud and financial abuse and we all must work together to combat this theat."

Alzheimer’s Disease International Global Conference 2024

The longest running international conference on dementia, the ADI Global Conference brings thousands of researchers, healthcare professionals, and government officials together to discuss the latest challenges and opportunities for people living with dementia and their carers.

“Over one thousand people are attending the ADI Global Conference this year including Her Majesty Queen Sofía of Spain and Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al Hussein of Jordan,” says ADI Chief Executive Officer, Paola Barbarino.

Barbarino encourages world leaders, health authorities and decision makers, and anyone affected by dementia to attend the ADI Global Conference to hear more about advances and challenges facing our global response to dementia.

“Exploring new technologies and AI solutions for dementia detection, diagnosis and care challenges is imperative to ensuring global healthcare systems around the world are prepared for the oncoming wave of dementia we’re set to see in the coming decades,” says Barbarino.

There are 55 million  people living with dementia globally, set to triple to over 150 million by 2050.

About Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI)

ADI is the international federation of 105 Alzheimer associations and federations around the world, in official relations with the World Health Organization. ADI's vision is prevention, care and inclusion today, and cure tomorrow. ADI believes that the key to winning the fight against dementia lies in a unique combination of global solutions and local knowledge. ADI works locally, by empowering Alzheimer's associations to promote and offer care and support for persons with dementia and their care partners, while working globally to focus attention on dementia and campaign for policy change. For more information, please visit www.alzint.org