Published on: Jun 03, 2025
INDIANAPOLIS — Researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine have conducted three promising studies showing that digital cognitive testing during routine primary care visits could aid in the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in older adults.
In the first study, published in Annals of Family Medicine, patients aged 65 and older at seven primary care clinics across Indiana were offered a quick, five-minute cognitive screening via an iPad app. Of the 1,808 individuals tested, nearly 14% showed signs of cognitive impairment and were referred for further evaluation. Among those who followed up within 90 days, 2% received a new Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis, and 5% were identified as having mild cognitive impairment. Additionally, 63% were referred to IU Health’s Brain Health Navigator program for continued monitoring.
A second study, also in the Annals of Family Medicine, explored the adoption of this digital screening by clinicians at the seven participating clinics, with four fully integrating the tool into their practice.
The third study, published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, highlighted the broader benefits of early cognitive impairment detection, including reduced risk of falls, hospital admissions, financial strain, and caregiver burden.
Dr. Diana Summanwar, a co-author of the first study and lead author of the second, emphasized that digital cognitive assessments enable crucial conversations about brain health that were often overlooked in primary care. She noted that these tools, when used with structured workflows and follow-up systems, can enhance early diagnosis and treatment.
Despite the promise, implementing such digital assessments requires clinic-specific adaptations and support. Dr. Nicole Fowler, lead author of the first and third studies, stressed the need for flexibility in aligning testing protocols with existing clinic operations. "There’s a difference between recognizing a need and having demand for it," she said.
Looking ahead, the research team plans to explore other technological solutions for early dementia detection, including machine-learning algorithms that could proactively identify at-risk patients and refer them to cognitive health resources like the Brain Health Navigator.
The studies were supported by the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative Healthcare System Preparedness Program and Voices of Alzheimer’s.
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