Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins has been awarded $20 million by the National Institute on Aging to develop artificial intelligence devices to improve the health of older adults and help them live more independently.
Four details:
- The award will be spread over five years. Johns Hopkins University's medical, nursing, business and engineering will collaborate on the project, according to a Nov. 15 news release. Caregivers, older adults and technology developers will also partner with the university in the development process.
- "Many older adults accumulate health problems and have functional and cognitive declines that impact their ability to stay in their own homes and enjoy meaningful social interactions," said Jeremy Walston, MD, professor of geriatric medicine. "This new enterprise is attempting to disrupt these problems in ways that will lengthen the years that people have to enjoy independent, highly functional lives, free of cognitive impairment."
- The percentage of older adults is expected to increase worldwide over the next few decades. There are 54 million people in the United States older than 65, and that number is predicted to nearly double by 2060, according to the release.
- AI creates an opportunity to ease challenges associated with aging. For example, sensors can be developed to prevent and predict falls, and algorithms can monitor speech and facial expressions to spot early signs of dementia, the release said.