Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) 2024
At CTAD 2024, the scientific program will focus on bringing cutting edge clinical research, thought-provoking roundtable and symposia on the latest advances in AD clinical research. CTAD 2024 brings together leaders from academic research centers, patient advocacy groups, international research coalitions and pharmaceutical companies. Clario Science’s Prateek Verma, M.D., will present a poster about “Cognitive Assessment and Wearable Sensor-Based Gait and Balance Assessment in Studies of Alzheimer’s Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Preliminary Review” on Friday 1 November at [time tbc].
Session information:
Poster session 3, theme 5
Title: Cognitive Assessment and Wearable Sensor-Based Gait and Balance Assessment in Studies of Alzheimer’s Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Preliminary Review.
Authors: Rebecca Lydon, Adam Jagodinsky, Reina Davis-Aoki, Prateek Verma, Kristen Sowalsky
Date: November 1, 2024
Time: 7:15am – 5pm CET
Abstract:
Background: Gait and balance deficits are present in patients with diminished cognitive function as a result of overlapping cortical networks in the central nervous system. Given the interplay between gait and cognition, quantitative gait measures show potential as clinical measures of cognitive impairment and dementia. Wearable sensor-based gait assessment offers a feasible approach to monitor gait impairment in large scale studies, however a better understanding of the concurrent use of sensor-based gait assessment with traditional measures of cognitive function in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) populations is important for determining utility for clinical trials.
Methods: A literature review was conducted in the PubMed database to assess studies that incorporated cognitive assessment and wearable sensor-based gait or balance assessment in AD and MCI populations. A PubMed search was conducted using the following inclusion criteria: 1) MCI or AD populations. 2) Cognitive assessment (i.e. Mini-Mental Status Examination: MMSE, Montreal Cognitive Assessment: MoCA). 3) Wearable sensor. 4) Gait or balance assessment.
Results: Out of 56 unique publications, a total of 17 studies were included in the analysis, which included a variety of cognitive assessments. The most common instrumented test were walk tests and Timed Up and Go in addition to daily monitoring. Sensor location included lumbar, wrist/arms, feet/ankles, and multiple sensor configurations. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) were implemented most frequently. Two studies reported a significant association between gait parameters and MoCA scores.
Conclusion: In AD and MCI studies using both wearable sensors and cognitive assessments, gait was most commonly measured. Walk tests were the most common form of instrumented gait assessment used together with cognitive assessments, followed by the instrumented TUG. Only two studies implemented daily monitoring, and one study assessed balance. This review provides insights into concurrent implementation of cognitive assessment and wearable sensor-based gait/balance measurement in AD and MCI studies.
Presenter
Prateek Verma, M.D.
Prateek Verma is an M.D. with more than 20 years’ experience in Clinical Research. He has served as clinical investigator in global neuro-psychiatry clinical trials. Dr. Verma has worked extensively in areas of AD, Schizophrenia, MDD, Bipolar, Dementia, other behavioral disorders, Infectious diseases and Dermatology. Dr. Verma also held advisory position for NIHR research design services and primary mental health clinical trials unit (PRIMENT), whilst working for Medical Research Council, UK and University College London. He presently oversees eCOA design, investigator training and outcome analysis activities in global psychiatric, neurology and non-CNS indications and serves as an expert presenter at global investigator meetings and mentors’ scientific staff.