Health & Medicine, UK (Commonwealth Union) – A recent Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool has the potential to assist medical professionals evaluate the early signs of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease faster with greater efficiency was found by scientists at the University of Sheffield.
CognoSpeak, a revolutionary system, utilizes an interactive virtual agent displayed on a screen to initiate meaningful conversations with patients. Drawing inspiration from memory-related inquiries commonly employed in outpatient consultations, it employs memory-probing questions. Additionally, cognitive evaluations like picture descriptions and verbal fluency tests are conducted to assess cognitive abilities.
Powered by artificial intelligence and advanced speech technology, CognoSpeak carefully analyzes the language and speech patterns of the individual, searching for indications of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other memory disorders.
The researchers spearheading this innovative technology propose that CognoSpeak could significantly alleviate the burden on dementia assessment services. However, before implementation across general practitioner (GP) and secondary care memory clinics throughout the United Kingdom, further testing is underway.
The objective is to establish a seamless connection between primary and secondary care. Once fully integrated, a GP would be able to refer individuals experiencing memory concerns to utilize the CognoSpeak system. Subsequently, CognoSpeak would transmit the test results back to the GP, who would then assess whether a referral to a memory clinic for further evaluation is necessary.
CognoSpeak offers the convenience of accessibility through a web browser, enabling patients to undergo the assessment from the comfort of their own homes using a computer, laptop, or tablet. This eliminates the need to wait for a hospital appointment and the associated stress and anxiety often associated with pen-and-paper-based assessments.
Promising initial trials have indicated that the accuracy of CognoSpeak in predicting Alzheimer’s is on par with the current pen-and-paper tests used to evaluate and screen for cognitive, memory, or thinking impairments. The research team has achieved remarkable accuracies of 90 percent in distinguishing individuals with Alzheimer’s from those who have normal cognitive function.
Produced by Dr. Dan Blackburn and Professor Heidi Christensen from the University of Sheffield’s Departments of Neuroscience and Computer Science, the CognoSpeak system is still in the research phase. However, with a generous £1.4 million grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the technology is undergoing broader trials. The researchers are actively recruiting 700 participants from memory clinics across the UK to contribute to the further development of this innovative system.
Dr Dan Blackburn, from the University of Sheffield, Department of Neuroscience, indicated that the period of uncertainty while waiting for a potential dementia diagnosis can be extremely distressing for both patients and their families. However, this tool has the potential to alleviate such anxiety by enabling patients to commence treatments at an earlier stage, minimizing waiting times, and providing earlier certainty regarding their condition.
Dr. Blackburn further indicated that by expediting assessments, the CognoSpeak system has the potential to revolutionize the diagnosis of dementia and other memory disorders. This transformative technology not only accelerates the process but also liberates clinicians’ valuable time, ensuring that individuals in need of specialized care receive prompt access to it.
Professor Heidi Christensen from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Computer Science, said: “The way a person speaks can tell us a great deal about their cognitive health and emotional wellbeing, and give us a very early indication of any signs of cognitive decline that may not otherwise have been detected. The system we’ve developed here at Sheffield uses speech technology to automatically extract these signs and the automation means we can provide a consistent, accurate and fast assessment for everyone.”
Patients have the opportunity to participate in the CognoSpeak trial via memory clinics all over the UK. Individuals can also take part in the trial by visiting, www.cognospeak.com
