Using Machine Learning to Detect Dementia in Older Drivers

Dementia can make it hard for a person to focus and remain alert -- two things that are really important for road safety. Being able to identify when someone is experiencing early signs of cognitive impairment could be key to saving lives on the road -- unfortunately, it's not always easy to notice these early signs. Now, machine learning could make it easier to detect dementia. The innovation: A team led by researchers at Columbia University has developed machine learning models that detect early and mild cognitive impairment in older drivers with 88% accuracy. The opportunity: By analyzing driving behavior, these machine learning algorithms can help identify when a driver might be exhibiting early indicators of dementia and mild cognitive impairment.