A potentially transformative artificial intelligence (tool has been developed to help detect the early signs of dementia and Alzheimer’s more quickly and efficiently, British researchers say.
CognoSpeak, developed by a team at the University of Sheffield, UK, uses a virtual agent displayed on a screen to engage a patient in a conversation. It asks memory-probing questions inspired by those used in outpatient consultations and conducts cognitive tests, such as picture descriptions and verbal fluency tests.
It then uses artificial intelligence and speech technology to analyse language and speech patterns to look for signs of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders.
Developed by Dr Dan Blackburn and Professor Heidi Christensen, from the Departments of Neuroscience and Computer Science, the CognoSpeak system is still in the research phase, but has now received a £1.4 million grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to trial the technology more widely.
The researchers are recruiting 700 participants from memory clinics across the UK to help develop the system further and say they hope the technology could play a key role in reducing the burden on dementia assessment services.
The system is designed to work in between primary and secondary care, so if it is rolled out, a GP could refer a person to use the web-based technology and the results would be sent to the doctor, who would determine if further assessments were needed.
Early trials have shown the technology is as accurate at predicting Alzheimer’s as the current pen-and-paper-based tests used to assess or screen for cognitive, memory or thinking impairments. There was a 90% accuracy in distinguishing people with Alzheimer’s from people that are cognitively healthy.
Dr Blackburn said: “The CognoSpeak system could transform how dementia and other memory disorders are diagnosed by speeding up assessments. This would also free-up clinicians’ valuable time and mean that those who need specialist care get access to it as quickly as possible.”
Professor Christensen added: “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 AI tool has been developed with Therapy Box, which specialises in speech and language technology, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Devices for Dignity MedTech Cooperative (D4D).
Lise Sproson, patient and public involvement lead at D4D said: “We are working closely with a broad range of community groups, including Sheffield’s Israac Somali Community Association, to co-develop the look and feel of the CognoSpeak system, to ensure it is acceptable, relatable and easy to use.
“We are training the AI with a range of regional UK accents and those speaking English as an additional language in order to maintain the accuracy it has previously demonstrated on tests with native English speakers across the population as a whole.”
Patients are being recruited to the CognoSpeak trial through memory clinics across the UK. For details, visit: [www.cognospeak.com]
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