Sensor-based systems for early detection of dementia (SENDA): a study protocol for a prospective cohort sequential study
Katrin Müller,
Stephanie Fröhlich,
Andresa M. C. Germano,
Jyothsna Kondragunta,
Maria Fernanda del Carmen Agoitia Hurtado,
Julian Rudisch,
Daniel Schmidt,
Gangolf Hirtz,
Peter Stollmann,
Claudia Voelcker-Rehage
Affiliations
Katrin Müller
Department of Sports Psychology (with focus on prevention and rehabilitation), Institute of Human Movement Science and Health, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Chemnitz University of Technology
Stephanie Fröhlich
Department of Sports Psychology (with focus on prevention and rehabilitation), Institute of Human Movement Science and Health, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Chemnitz University of Technology
Andresa M. C. Germano
Department of Human Locomotion, Institute of Human Movement Science and Health, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Chemnitz University of Technology
Jyothsna Kondragunta
Department of Digital Signal Processing and Circuit Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Chemnitz University of Technology
Maria Fernanda del Carmen Agoitia Hurtado
Department of Analysis, Faculty of Mathematics, Chemnitz University of Technology
Julian Rudisch
Department of Sports Psychology (with focus on prevention and rehabilitation), Institute of Human Movement Science and Health, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Chemnitz University of Technology
Daniel Schmidt
Department of Human Locomotion, Institute of Human Movement Science and Health, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Chemnitz University of Technology
Gangolf Hirtz
Department of Digital Signal Processing and Circuit Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Chemnitz University of Technology
Peter Stollmann
Department of Analysis, Faculty of Mathematics, Chemnitz University of Technology
Claudia Voelcker-Rehage
Department of Sports Psychology (with focus on prevention and rehabilitation), Institute of Human Movement Science and Health, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Chemnitz University of Technology
Abstract Background Dementia and cognitive decline are serious social and economic burdens. An increase in the population of older people, as well as longer lifespans mean that numbers of dementia cases are exponentially rising. Neuropathological changes associated with dementia are thought to appear before the clinical manifestation of cognitive symptoms, i.e., memory impairments. Further, some older adults (OA) experience cognitive decline before it can be objectively diagnosed. For optimal care of these patients, it is necessary to detect cognitive decline and dementia at an early stage. In this vein, motor, sensory, and neurophysiological declines could be promising factors if found to be present before the onset of cognitive impairment. Hence, the objective of the SENDA study is to develop a multi-dimensional sensor-based instrument that allows early detection of cognitive decline or dementia in OA with the help of cognitive, sensory, motor, and neurophysiological parameters before its clinical manifestation. Methods/design In the cohort sequential study, participants are assigned to one of three study groups depending on their cognitive status: 1. cognitively healthy individuals (CHI), 2. subjectively cognitively impaired persons (SCI), or 3. (possible) mildly cognitively impaired persons (pMCI, MCI). All groups take part in the same cognitive (e.g., executive function tests), motor (e.g., gait analyses, balance tests), sensory (e.g., vibration perception threshold test, proprioception tests), and neurophysiological (e.g., electroencephalograms) measurements. Depending on the time at which participants are included into the study, all measurements are repeated up to four times in intervals of 8 months within 3 years to identify associations with cognitive changes over time. Discussion This study aims to detect possible motor, sensory, neurophysiological, and cognitive predictors to develop an early screening tool for dementia and its pre-stages in OA. Thus, affected persons could receive optimal health care at an earlier time point to maintain their health resources. Trial status The study is ongoing. The recruitment of participants will be continued until May 2020.
