Digital Diagnostics and Phenotyping
Nicotinamide Riboside and Alzheimer's Disease (NRAD)
This study focusses on the effects of a Vitamin B3 dietary supplement, Nicotinamide Riboside (NR), on brain metabolism in those with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or mild Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). NRAD is an NIH-funded, open-label, 12-week long brain imaging research study. We are currently enrolling - click here to review our recruitment page. To review our clinical trials page, click here.
In collaboration with Emerald Innovations, this study also offers participation in an optional sub-study using the Emerald device ©. The Emerald device is a wireless sensor that monitors the radio waves in the home and uses machine learning and signal processing algorithms to detect movements of a specific person. This enables the production of detailed data and advances insights into a person's health. To review our clinical trials page, click here
In collaboration with Emerald Innovations, this study also offers participation in an optional sub-study using the Emerald device ©. The Emerald device is a wireless sensor that monitors the radio waves in the home and uses machine learning and signal processing algorithms to detect movements of a specific person. This enables the production of detailed data and advances insights into a person's health. To review our clinical trials page, click here
Sensor-Guided Psychopharmacology in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADAPT)
Use of antipsychotics and mood stabilizers is common but accompanied by risk. We will pilot an AI-guided approach using wearable sensors that can generate real-time objective data to guide monitoring of medication effects and side-effects and add precision to clinical decisions around these medications. Our Project Aims are to demonstrate feasibility and clinical validity of this approach and assess impact on clinical decision making. Our aims are to demonstrate feasibility and clinical validity of wearable sensors to detect antipsychotic and mood stabilizer effects in older adults with dementia and to evaluate whether wearable sensor data can impact clinical decision making.
Digital Therapeutics
Caregiver Support
We are actively investigating how large language models can provide a novel means of support for caregivers of people with Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia. The chat algorithms are HIPAA compliant and specifically trained for clinical care-related queries. This project is funded by the Massachusetts AI and Technology Center (MassAITC) year 2 pilot projects. Click here to learn more.
Mindfulness-Based Art Psychotherapy Group for Older Adults Using Digital Tools
The explosion of digital tools for phototherapy in the past 5 years offers the capability to maximize the potential of this modality by facilitating combination of both mindfulness and phototherapy for exponential treatment impact. We have conducted preliminary feasibility and qualitative effectiveness research on a digital phototherapy-based mindfulness group for older adults experiencing anxiety and depression in the SAGE program within the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at McLean. The approach appeared feasible and possible to implement in a group of older adults, and qualitative feedback indicated that participants felt a sense of mastery and continued interest in both mindfulness and phototherapy practices. This work points to the vast potential of incorporating technology to accelerate and expand the process of art therapies and serves as a model of how to incorporate digital tools into the process of clinical care, both in group and individual settings.
Augmented Reality (AR) Applications for older adults with Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitive Impairments
Our lab is currently conducting foundational research around the impact and potential clinical benefits of augmented reality (AR) for older adults with Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia, and Cognitive Impairments. Click on the years to review our accepted 2023 and 2024 abstracts for the annual American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) on AR applications for older adults.
Clinical Implementation
Technology and Aging Initiative
The goal of the Technology and Aging Initiative is to serve as an early adopter of technologies for clinical care and study their feasibility, with the aim of expanding their use at McLean in collaboration with the Institute for Technology in Psychiatry (ITP). The initiative involves leveraging commercial technology by incorporating wearables and mobile device sensors for real-time phenotyping of behavior symptoms such as apathy and insomnia. Our team has extensive experience in this domain, having previously completed projects that involved the use of video games for subsyndromal depression, telepsychiatry for neurocognitive testing in rural Latino populations and using tablet devices to control behavioral symptoms in dementia.