A group of studies from the Indiana University School of Medicine has found that quick digital brain health screenings during regular doctor visits could help detect early signs of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in older adults.
These tests, delivered using a simple iPad app, may make it easier for doctors and patients to have important conversations about memory and thinking problems—conversations that often don’t happen soon enough.
In the first study, published in the Annals of Family Medicine, patients aged 65 and older visiting seven primary care clinics in Indiana were offered a five-minute digital screening test. Out of the 1,808 people who took the test, nearly 14% showed signs of possible cognitive problems. These individuals were then referred for follow-up testing.
Within 90 days, follow-up exams confirmed that about 2% of those screened received a new diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. Another 5% were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment—a condition that often comes before dementia.
The majority of patients with abnormal test results were referred to IU Health’s Brain Health Navigator program, which helps people and families better understand and manage early brain health issues.
The second study, also published in Annals of Family Medicine, looked at how willing doctors and clinics were to use the digital tests. Four of the seven clinics fully integrated the assessments into their routine care.
According to Dr. Diana Summanwar, a physician and co-author of the research, these tests made a big difference in practice. “We were able to start new conversations with older patients about their brain health—conversations that hadn’t been happening before,” she said. The digital tool helped flag concerns early, giving doctors a chance to act sooner.
The third study, published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, reinforced the importance of early diagnosis. Spotting memory and thinking issues early on can help patients get better treatment, reduce risks such as falling or needing hospital care, and ease the burden on family caregivers.
The study highlights how digital tools can help integrate brain health checks into regular care—something that has often been overlooked.
Nicole Fowler, Ph.D., a key researcher on all three studies, explained that while the digital assessments are helpful, they aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Clinics need to tailor the process to their own routines and community needs. “Just because there’s a need doesn’t mean there’s always demand,” she said. “Clinics need the flexibility to adjust the tool in ways that work best for them.”
The researchers are now exploring other technology-based methods to improve early dementia detection. One idea is to use artificial intelligence to scan patient records for hidden risk factors and automatically refer at-risk patients to programs like the Brain Health Navigator.
In summary, these studies show that quick and simple digital tests during routine checkups could become a valuable tool for identifying memory problems earlier. Early action could lead to better treatment, planning, and support for patients and families.
While challenges remain in making this approach widely used, the research offers hope that technology could help close the gap in detecting brain diseases before they become more serious.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about inflammation that may actually slow down cognitive decline in older people, and low vitamin D may speed up cognitive decline.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about common exercises that could protect against cognitive decline, and results showing that this MIND diet may protect your cognitive function, prevent dementia.
The research findings can be found in The Annals of Family Medicine.
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