Speech-Based Artificial Intelligence for Detection of Dementia in Danish Patients (DetectAI)

Summary

The goal of this observational study is to learn if an artificial intelligence (AI)-based speech analysis tool can identify which patients with memory problems need specialist evaluation at a memory clinic. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Can the AI model accurately distinguish between patients who need referral to a memory clinic (those with dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment) and patients who don't (those with normal cognition or memory problems from other causes like depression)? Which speech patterns and cognitive test features are most useful for making this distinction?

Researchers will compare speech recordings and cognitive test results from patients diagnosed with dementia or MCI to those from patients with normal cognition or non-neurodegenerative cognitive impairment to see if the AI model can reliably predict who needs specialist dementia care.

Participants will:

Complete standard cognitive tests at the memory clinic Perform structured speech tasks while being audio-recorded Receive their usual clinical evaluation and diagnosis from memory clinic specialists

The results of this study will help develop a tool that can assist doctors in making faster, more accurate decisions about which patients need specialist dementia evaluation, potentially leading to earlier diagnosis and better patient outcomes.

Conditions

• Dementia (Diagnosis)
• Alzheimer Dementia (AD)
• Vascular Dementia (VaD)
• Lewy Body Dementia (LBD)
• Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)
• Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
• Depression - Major Depressive Disorder
• Stress
• Cognitive Impairment

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Mini-mental State Examination

Participants will be recorded during the test in order til allow the AI to learn and analyze speech patterns.

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination

Participants will be recorded during the test in order til allow the AI to learn and analyze speech patterns.

OTHER

Speech Task - Picture Description

Participants will be asked to describe the Cookie Theft Picture from the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination. The task will take 2 minutes. Participants will be recorded during the speech task in order to allow the AI to learn and analyze the speech patterns.

OTHER

Speech Task - Picture Recall

Participants will be asked to recall the picture shown in the previous speech task "Picture Narrative". This task will take 2 minutes. Participants will be recorded during the test in order til allow the AI to learn and analyze speech patterns.

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

MRI

For healthy controls an MRI will be conducted to provide comparable imaging and as part of screening to ensure they do not meet exclusion criteria (neuroradiological findings that could affect cognitive functions). For patient participants, imaging will be performed as part of the standard diagnostic battery and results will be obtained from the electronic journal.

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

blood sampling

Healthy control participants will undergo a standard blood test panel commonly used in dementia diagnostics. The panel includes complete blood counts, inflammatory markers, kidney- and liver function markers, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), vitamine B12 and folate. These tests are performed to exclude underlying medical conditions that could mimic cognitive impairment. For patient participants, blood sampling will be performed as part of the standard diagnostic battery and results will be obtained from the electronic journal.

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Depression screening

Performed on healthy controls to rule out depression using either the geriatric depression scale (GDS) for patients \> 65 year of age or the Major Depression Index (MDI) for patiens \<65 year of age. For patient participants, depression screening will be performed as part of the standard diagnostic battery and results will be obtained from the electronic journal.

OTHER

Somatic- and neurological examination

Healthy controls will undergo a standard somatic and neurological examination to exclude conditions that may affect cognition. This includes basic neurological assessment and clinical evaluation of general health status. For patient participants, a somatic and neurological examination will be performed as part of the standard diagnostic battery and results will be obtained from the electronic journal

OTHER

Speech Task - Picture Narrative

The participant is asked to tell a brief story based on a culturally neutral picture. This task will take approximately 2 minutes. Participants will be recorded during the speech task in order to allow the AI to learn and analyze the speech patterns

Sponsors & Collaborators

• DemensAI ApS (private tech partner, Denmark)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Zealand University Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Peter Høgh, MD, PhD, Assoc Prof · Zealand University Hospital

Eligibility

Min Age

50 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-06-01

Primary Completion

2028-05-31

Completion

2028-07-31

Countries

• Denmark

Study Locations