An Informatics Platform for Objectively Quantifying Electric Power Wheelchair Usage for those with Alzheimer's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias, and Cognitive Impairments

项目摘要/摘要 建议为轮椅操作员的照顾者提供一个信息平台，这些人有或有可能患上轮椅 阿尔茨海默病(AD)、阿尔茨海默病相关痴呆(AD/ADRD)和认知障碍。 意义：许多老年人患有限制行动能力的慢性健康状况，因此，轮椅的使用 对于保持独立来说是必不可少的。然而，当年长的轮椅使用者表现出认知能力的迹象时 与发展中的痴呆症相关的下降，照顾者必须做出艰难的、主观的选择，与 自主行动能力。目前还没有一个系统可以监控和量化微妙地减少的驾驶 超能力。假设：我们假设直接观察轮椅使用者的驾驶行为可以 定量区分正常操作和受损操作。这样的系统可以通知照顾者 在发生可能需要干预的事件之前，应审查轮椅使用情况，并可能 停职。相反，它可能允许许多患者继续使用轮椅，为照顾者提供 对患者能力的一致、社区内测量，反映他们当前的认知状态。具体目标： 在第二阶段，IDL及其合作者将：(1)开发可投入生产的系统，(2)执行监测 对电动轮椅使用者的研究(非临床试验)，以及(3)评估系统和算法性能 量化驾驶习惯和认知变化。

Project Summary/Abstract Proposed is an informatics platform for caregivers of wheelchair operators with or at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (AD/ADRD), and cognitive impairments. Significance: Many older adults have chronic health conditions that limit mobility and, thus, wheelchair use is essential for maintaining independence. However, when an older wheelchair user exhibits signs of cognitive decline related to developing dementia, caregivers must make hard, subjective choices trading safety with independent mobility. Currently there is no system that can monitor and quantify subtly diminishing driving abilities. Hypothesis: We hypothesize that direct observation of a wheelchair user’s driving behavior can quantitatively distinguish between normal and impaired operation. Such a system could inform caregivers before an incident that intervention may be necessary and wheelchair use should be reviewed and possibly suspended. Conversely, it may allow many patients to continue wheelchair use by providing caregivers a consistent, in-community measure of a patient’s abilities reflecting their current cognitive state. Specific Aims: In Phase II, IDL and its collaborators will: (1) Develop a production-ready system, (2) Perform a monitoring study with powered wheelchair users (non-clinical trial), and (3) Evaluate system and algorithm performance quantifying driving habits and cognitive changes.