Maintaining safe mobility is essential for older adults' quality of life, but age-related cognitive and functional declines increase crash risks and impair independent driving. This presentation explores how integrating digital and biological biomarkers can inform predictive models of cognitive decline, enhancing both the early detection of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) progression and older driver safety.
Advanced technologies enable the capture of longitudinal data from diverse cohorts of older adults to identify early signs of cognitive decline. Passive sensor data capturing real-world behaviors—such as driving patterns, social interactions, and sleep—can be combined with biological markers (e.g., amyloid and tau proteins, inflammatory markers, and neuroimaging) to develop predictive models rooted in Digital Twin principles. These models simulate individual behavior and health trajectories, offering actionable insights for timely interventions.
Key aspects include:
Digital Biomarkers: Driving patterns and social connectedness as novel, validated predictors of cognitive decline.
Predictive Models: Integration of digital and biological biomarkers to assess AD progression and identify intervention points.
Implications for Driver Safety: Leveraging real-world data to design adaptive in-vehicle technologies (e.g., Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and Driver Monitoring Systems) that support older adults' diverse needs and abilities.
This research strategy contributes to the development of inclusive, human-centric mobility solutions that enable older adults to remain active community members while prioritizing safety. It demonstrates how human-machine interface design and personalized diagnostics can address cognitive challenges without compromising autonomy.
Aligned with ICAP's themes, this work addresses emerging fields in human-machine interaction, applies interdisciplinary approaches, and offers scalable, cost-effective solutions to improve mobility and health outcomes. By bridging the gap between research and real-world applications, it fosters meaningful dialogue among clinicians, researchers, and policymakers, driving a paradigm shift in aging, cognition, and transportation.