Smart Wristband Monitoring: A Caregiver-Oriented Mobile Application for Tracking Cognitive Decline in Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is the transitional phase between the typical expected memory problems related to age and the more serious decline of dementia. Therefore, monitoring progress from MCI to dementia is critical to slowing down this cognitive deterioration. Research shows that proper nutrition, routine brain, and physical exercise accompanied by proper care slow down the disease significantly. However, most of the patients do not perform these exercises regularly and their vital health data is not monitored properly, leaving patients most of the time with only basic care. In this study, for the first time to our knowledge, we aimed to develop a mobile application that will enable caregivers to continuously monitor the vital health, medication, activity, and location of the patients with MCI with a smart wristband while enabling them caregivers to track the progress of the disease by a machine learning model that tracks MMSE of the patient using speech. Based on our research so far, this caregiver-oriented approach with the ability to track progress of the disease using the convenience of a mobile application is a unique attempt in the field. Patient profile along with collected data is correlated with tracked MMSE scores of the patients to come up with recommendations and findings about the patients. Caregivers are relieved to be notified about critical health data thresholds, progress, and condition of their patients.