IIT-Patna develops AI-powered wearable device to detect early signs of dementia

Patna: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna have developed an AI-based wearable device that can help detect early signs of dementia in elderly people. The system is designed to identify cognitive decline at an early stage, when symptoms often go unnoticed.The research team is led by Rahul Mishra from the department of computer science and engineering. Other members include Ashutosh Kumar Sinha, Akash Sinha and Prakhar Shukla. The project has been supported by the I-DAPT Hub Foundation at BHU.Giving details of the research findings, Mishra said the device uses a 19-channel EEG-based wearable helmet to monitor brain activity. “It is equipped with smart sensors, TinyML technology and real-time artificial intelligence to analyse neurological signals. Unlike conventional diagnostic methods such as MRI or PET scans, this system does not depend on expensive equipment or hospital-based setups,” he said.He further said one of the key features of the device is that it processes data directly on low-power hardware. This reduces reliance on cloud systems and also lowers cost and energy consumption. The TinyML framework helps cut memory use and speeds up data processing, making it suitable for continuous monitoring, he added.The system aims to make dementia screening affordable and accessible, especially in regions with limited medical infrastructure. Experts say such wearable technologies can play a major role in early diagnosis and timely treatment. In addition, the team is also working on another system that studies walking patterns to detect early signs of dementia. It will analyse gait, balance, stride and movement stability, which often change in the early stages of neurological disorders.Mishra said that experimental trials of this newly developed system have already been carried out with great success and further trials would be conducted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Patna in coordination with medical experts soon.