TECHNOLOGY
Redefining dementia detection In the ongoing battle against dementia, pre-dementia symptoms can now be detected more quickly and cost-efficiently than ever before through the development of AI-led technology. NR Times speaks to Dr Sina Habibi, CEO of Cognetivity, about their groundbreaking work and how the pandemic has helped in the acceptance of remote-use technology Through the development of pioneering AI-led technology has come the power to reinvent dementia detection. Following years of R&D, successful clinical trials and medical approval, Cognetivity Neurosciences is now being used in both primary and secondary care to find pre-dementia symptoms through a simple test in a quicker time and at a lower cost than ever before. With its non-invasive, low risk tech system able to be used by patients remotely, as well as in a healthcare
UP TO HALF OF DEMENTIAS CAN BE PREVENTED THROUGH LIFESTYLE FACTORS. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE FOR HEALTHCARE TO DEAL WITH THIS, BUT WE ARE WELL POSITIONED TO PLAY A ROLE IN TACKLING THIS BY DETECTING EARLIER AND ENABLING A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE. NRTIMES
setting, Cognetivity is also helping to pave the way towards a digital future for healthcare, which has become much more widely accepted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Broadly, its technology works by showing a patient a series of pictures, to which they have to respond as quickly and accurately as possible whether they have seen a prespecified image category. AI algorithms then cluster test performance in terms of accuracy, speed and image properties, giving rapid and highly accurate results. The information can then prove crucial in determining next steps for patients, securing better outcomes, saving significant sums of money in care and examination costs, and offering “queue-busting functionality” in cutting waiting times and removing the need for potentially unnecessary appointments. Cognetivity, founded in 2013, is pioneered by founders Dr Sina Habiba and Dr Seyed-Mahdi Khaligh-Razavi. Combining their expertise and Cambridge PhDs in engineering and cognition and brain sciences respectively, the concept of Cognetivity was born through the discovery of a break-through idea from Dr Khaligh-Razavi’s research. “We started with a solution and then looked for the problem,” says Dr Habiba, CEO of Cognetivity. “In human vision, the eyes work like a camera and the brain makes sense of what happens. But he realised the ability to process visual information drops in time, as you get older it takes longer. They were very interesting observations, so thought let’s put this hypothesis to the test. 76
