Emory University, Linus Health partner to advance early detection of Alzheimer’s disease

Linus Health announced a collaboration with Goizueta Institute @Emory Brain Health and The Seavey Clinic at Emory Healthcare to implement digital cognitive assessments in primary care for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.

According to a Linus Health release, the digital health company will work with Emory University to evaluate and operationalize advanced digital technology to help primary care providers detect AD and other dementias in early stages.

A key component in the collaboration is Linus Health’s Core Cognitive Evaluation, an iPad-based cognitive assessment tool based on the traditional clock-drawing test for detecting cognitive impairment, the release stated.

“Primary care has long been the lynchpin for getting ahead of diseases, and diseases of the brain are no exception,” David Bates, PhD, CEO of Linus Health, said in the release. “With new drugs like Leqembi coming on the market, this is not only a unique point in time in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease because new detection tools exist, but also because treatment options are growing.”

According to the release, the first phase of the collaboration will focus on new cognitive testing practices, clinical workflows and system integrations with participating providers at The Seavey Clinic, with future expansion expected.

“Identifying new approaches to detecting brain diseases at their earliest stages is a top priority for the Goizueta Institute’s initiative for personalized brain health,” Allan Levey, MD, PhD, founding director of the institute and director of the Goizueta Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Emory. “To achieve this, we not only need new, standardized tools for assessing cognition, but also increasingly personalized patient prevention and treatment strategies.”