Cited by 10Dementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchAlzheimer's disease research and treatmentsContext-Aware Activity Recognition Systems

Correlating continuously captured home-based digital biomarkers of daily function with postmortem neurodegenerative neuropathology

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Hantke, Nathan C., Kaye, Jeffrey, Mattek, Nora, Wu, Chao-Yi, Dodge, Hiroko H., Beattie, Zachary, Woltjer, Randy·2023·PLOS ONE

Abstract

Background: Outcome measures available for use in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) clinical trials are limited in ability to detect gradual changes. Measures of everyday function and cognition assessed unobtrusively at home using embedded sensing and computing generated “digital biomarkers” (DBs) have been shown to be ecologically valid and to improve efficiency of clinical trials. However, DBs have not been assessed for their relationship to AD neuropathology. Objectives: The goal of the current study is to perform an exploratory examination of possible associations between DBs and AD neuropathology in an initially cognitively intact community-based cohort. Methods: Participants included in this study were ≥65 years of age, living independently, of average health for age, and followed until death. Algorithms, run on the continuously-collected passive sensor data, generated daily metrics for each DB: cognitive function, mobility, socialization, and sleep. Fixed postmortem brains were evaluated for neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and neuritic plaque (NP) pathology and staged by Braak and CERAD systems in the context of the “ABC” assessment of AD-associated changes. Results: The analysis included a total of 41 participants (M±SD age at death = 92.2±5.1 years). The four DBs showed consistent patterns relative to both Braak stage and NP score severity. Greater NP severity was correlated with the DB composite and reduced walking speed. Braak stage was associated with reduced computer use time and increased total time in bed. Discussion: This study provides the first data showing correlations between DBs and neuropathological markers in an aging cohort. The findings suggest continuous, home-based DBs may hold potential to serve as behavioral proxies that index neurodegenerative processes.

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Authors
Hantke, N. C., Kaye, J., Mattek, N., Wu, C.-Y., Dodge, H. H., Beattie, Z., & Woltjer, R.
Affiliations
  • Oregon Health & Science University (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Hantke, Nathan C.
Venue
PLOS ONE
Published
2023-06-08
Volume
18
Issue
6
Pages
e0286812
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4379805226
Cited by
10
References
62
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 1
FWCI
2.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
National Institute on Aging (P30AG024978, R01AG024059, P30AG008017, P30AG066518)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition › Context-Aware Activity Recognition Systems
Keywords
Alzheimer's disease, digital biomarkers, home monitoring, postmortem neuropathology, neurofibrillary tangles, neuritic plaques, Braak staging, CERAD, passive sensors, walking speed, sleep, computer use, socialization, cognitive function, clinical trial outcome measures
MeSH terms
Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Alzheimer Disease, Brain, Cognition, Humans, Neurofibrillary Tangles, Plaque, Amyloid

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