Note: This study is currently only recruiting patients in the hospital.

If you are interested in being notified if this study begins recruiting from the general population, please use the 'I Am Interested' button below.

At-home digital tracking of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

This study will train a group of older individuals with cognitive impairment to use digital devices (e.g., an Apple Watch) at home. These devices will monitor movement, heart rate and sleep. A study partner may be required.

Massachusetts General Hospital Alzheimer's Disease
12 months
Estimated Time Commitment
Any Sex/Gender, 55-90 years
May Be Eligible
Non-payment compensation, Payment up to $200, Meals
May Be Offered
Survey, Personal health tracking
May Be Required
 
I Am Interested I Am Interested I Am Interested

This project is not recruiting.

Overview

What we are studying

We are studying the feasibility of creating a cohort of patients living with dementia and related disorders who can wear digital devices continuously to monitor health measures such as their heart rate, sleep quality and activity. 


Why it is important

Currently, patients living with dementia and related disorders are evaluated infrequently and in artificial clinical settings. Moreover, the information obtained at these visits is potentially inaccurate. Digital technologies can more frequently and more accurately measure cognition, behavior, activity, socialization, and sleep quality in these individuals and can do so in real-life settings (e.g., the patient’s own home). 


What we hope to accomplish

We hope that this study will create a cohort of technology-ready patients living with dementia and related dementias (as well as their caregivers) upon whom continuous, longitudinal, home-based digital assessments can be collected. 

Principal Investigator

Mark C Eldaief, MD

Massachusetts General Hospital

Public Profile

Who can participate

Older individuals with subjective cognitive complaints, older individuals who have Mild Cognitive Impairment and older individuals with dementia, and older cognitively healthy individuals. 

Who cannot participate

Anyone who cannot tolerate wearing an Apple Watch for extended periods of time.
Anyone who does not have an iPhone X released in 2017 or newer, (An iPhone is required to participate in this study)
Anyone who does not have wifi at home 

What you may be asked to do

·     Participants will be asked to wear an Apple Watch as consistently as possible for 12 months, including during nighttime while sleeping, with breaks only for charging the device.
·      Participants will be asked to do voice recordings into an iPhone app periodically. They will also be asked to play games on an iPad app as much as they want.
·      Participants will be asked to undergo formal cognitive testing three times during the study (every 6 months).
·     Participants with diagnosed cognitive impairments (MCI or dementia) will be required to have a study partner


Project activities may include:

  • Survey
  • Personal health tracking

Estimated Time Commitment

12 months

What You May Get

Participants will be gifted an Apple Watch and reimbursed $200 upon completion of the trial.

Location

Massachusetts General Hospital
149 13th street, Charlestown, MA

Map it!


Travel

  • Accessible by public transportation
  • Parking available
  • Parking reimbursed
  • Local travel reimbursed

Travel and Parking Details

Parking available through an on-site garage and will be validated. 

Additional Information

Participating Institutions


Funding Source

  • NIH or Other Federal
Top