<< Back
Can computer algorithms detect facial expression changes in patients with dementia?
Erin Smith
Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford, CA - United States
Background
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a brain disease characterized by the presence of protein clumps in the brain known as Lewy bodies; the primary component of these clumps is a protein known as alpha synuclein. These features are also observed in some individuals with Alzheimer's and in most individuals with Parkinson's disease. However, early diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease remains challenging due to a lack of available biological markers (biomarkers).
Reduced facial expression, called hypomimia, is a common feature of Parkinson’s and can also be a symptom of dementia with Lewy bodies. However, it is unknown how hypomimia changes during disease progression or whether it could be used as a biomarker for early diagnosis.
Research Plan
Dr. Erin Smith and colleagues propose a pilot study to examine how facial expression changes during Parkinson’s and dementia with Lewy bodies progression. First, they will recruit 30 individuals with dementia with Lewy bodies as well as over 100 cognitively unimpaired individuals to participate in the study. The team will record facial videos of individuals and develop a computer-based algorithm to differentiate individuals with dementia with Lewy bodies based on facial expression patterns. Additionally, the team will recruit over 100 individuals with Parkinson’s disease to examine whether facial expression patterns are different between the dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease.
Impact
If successful, results from this study could shed new light on the relationship between facial expression changes and dementia progression. This project may also lead to the development of software capable of monitoring facial behavior for early detection of dementia.
Back to Top