CognoSpeakTM  is a research project hosted by the University of Sheffield, supported via the NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) grant, aiming to develop a memory problem screening tool hoping to change the future of dementia diagnosis.

CognoSpeakTM is a digital assessment tool, developed by a team led by Dr. Dan Blackburn and Professor Heidi Christensen (Department of Computer Science), which utilises speech technology and machine learning to identify distinct patterns of speech that help to differentiate between healthy volunteers, neurodegenerative memory problems and functional memory problems. CognoSpeakTM asks participants memory-probing questions and conducts cognitive tests, such as verbal fluency tests or picture descriptions, in a conversational format, representing those used at outpatient consultations.

Early detection of memory problems has many benefits regarding patient care and wellbeing. However, due to memory clinics currently being heavily oversubscribed, quick diagnoses are very hard to achieve. Patients often wait months solely for the initial appointment, which increases patient stress and the possibility of irreversible memory problems. This screening tool has great potential to reduce delays for patients who need urgent attention, whilst also reassuring patients quickly who are not suffering from diseases such as Alzheimer’s, therefore increasing clinical effectiveness and decreasing healthcare costs.Early trials of CognoSpeakTM have shown that it is as accurate in identifying dementia as traditional screening tests used by GPs at. 

An article, co-authored by our Long-Term Neurological Conditions Theme Co-Lead Dr. Dan Blackburn, highlights how CognoSpeakTM works with four different groups: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), functional cognitive disorder (FCD) and healthy control participants: Fully automated cognitive screening tool based on assessment of speech and language – PubMed (nih.gov).

Devices for Dignity (D4D) are co-investigators on this project and leading the stakeholder engagement element of the project, working to ensure that the system is as acceptable, usable and equally accurate for people who speak English as an additional language, since it has already been proved for native English speakers. The system is being developed further, based on usability feedback from a number of groups and also the Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being trained on a much wider group of participants (50 people from GP referrals awaiting assessment, 50 people from local ethnic minority groups, 120 people with memory problems and 120 healthy controls.)

We have been collaborating closely with the Israac Somali Community Association in Sheffield, where we have made extremely strong connections and learned valuable lessons about involving regularly marginalised groups in clinical research. D4D were keen to work in partnership with ethnic communities and value the impact achievable by working with people from the community, as they have established trust and support within their networks. The project therefore funds time from Ismail Yussuf, Finance and Operations Manager at Israac and also one day per week for two Community Research Associates, Muse Jama and Sahra Abdi who have become fully trained community researchers. They have gained their Good Clinical Practice certificate and have been supported to successfully administer cognitive screening tests to those recruited from the community. They also aid in organising, and interpreting workshops and events to explore lived experience of dementia and healthcare  in this community and to spread awareness about health research and opportunities to become involved in this. Once the target of 50 recruits from the Somali population have completed their participation, the team will undertake a similar approach with South Asian Groups in the city.