Something in the way she moves – research seeks early Alzheimer's clues

The song title popularized by James Taylor decades ago has taken on a different meaning for an Alzheimer’s disease researcher at Colorado State University. An engineer by training, Dr. Neha Lodha is using her expertise and tools that passively monitor the physical movements made by older adults to better understand how fluctuations in those moves may be an early indicator of progressing cognitive impairment.

An associate professor and director of CSU’s Movement Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Lab, Dr. Lodha believes that before Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia are formally diagnosed, the earliest signs of cognitive impairment may be detected in day-to-day activities, such as driving, cooking, or managing finances or medications.

Dr. Lodha’s “Independence in Driving (I-Drive)” study is designed to capture subtle changes in the behavior of study participants. Using “passive monitoring” tools, such as a plug-in device similar to what many insurance companies are now using to assess the risk posed by insured drivers, Dr. Lodha and her team are able to capture repeated behaviors – such as driving trips to work or the grocery store – to look for fluctuations over time.

“For example, we may see that over time a driver is consistently adjusting their route to avoid left turns,” she said. “Similarly, increased variability in average speed suggests inconsistent driving patterns, which can be an early indicator of deteriorating cognition and motor skills.”

As cognitive decline progresses, Dr. Lodha said that individuals are less likely to drive to new locations, reducing their “mobility and novelty-seeking behavior.”

The next phase

After data collection is completed in this initial study, Dr. Lodha is looking to combine the results of her behavior-based study with blood biomarker data to provide additional confirmation of the parallel between the changes in driving patterns and any changes in the amyloid plaque levels in the bloodstream and brain.

Seeking more study participants

The CSU study, which was launched with funding from the Alzheimer’s Association and is being extended with Dr. Lodha’s recent Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award, is still in the data-collection stage. She is continuing to recruit study participants between the ages of 60 and 85, both with memory concerns (up to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis) as well as healthy adults. Among her current study participants are couples where one individual has a dementia diagnosis and the other does not.

The study involves two three-hour sessions (which can be combined in a single day for convenience) that include motor skill assessments, walking and balance evaluations, and use of a state-of-the-art driving simulator. Optional elements of the study are the use of the in-car sensor and a blood test. Participants must have a current driver’s license and sufficient English language skills to understand project instructions.

“We currently have study participants from across Colorado as well as from Nebraska, Utah and Wyoming,” said Dr. Lodha. “We’re hoping to expand the base of participants to give us the best possible data set. More participants will help advance research on driving safety after the onset of neurodegenerative conditions such as mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s and other dementias.”

Study participants receive a free assessment of driving and fall risk as well as cognitive status, in addition to compensation of up to $100. To learn more, email Dr. Lodha’s team at mnrlab@colostate.edu.