Spotting dementia earlier in the deaf community using an automated screening tool
Award Number
RPGF180237Status / Stage
CompletedDates
1 October 2018 -1 April 2020
Duration (calculated)
01 years 06 monthsFunder(s)
Dunhill Medical TrustFunding Amount
£65,173.00Funder/Grant study page
Dunhill Medical TrustContracted Centre
University of WestminsterContracted Centre Webpage
Principal Investigator
Dr Anastassia AngelopoulouPI Contact
A.Angelopoulou@westminster.ac.ukWHO Catergories
Tools and methodologies for interventionsDisease Type
Mild DementiaCPEC Review Info
| Reference ID | 346 |
|---|---|
| Researcher | Reside Team |
| Published | 12/06/2023 |
Data
| Award Number | RPGF180237 |
|---|---|
| Status / Stage | Completed |
| Start Date | 20181001 |
| End Date | 20200401 |
| Duration (calculated) | 01 years 06 months |
| Funder/Grant study page | Dunhill Medical Trust |
| Contracted Centre | University of Westminster |
| Contracted Centre Webpage | |
| Funding Amount | £65,173.00 |
Abstract
Within the older British Sign Language community, dementia can show itself as changes in the way someone signs – but these subtle changes are hard to spot by those who don’t use sign language. Dr Anastasia Angelopoulou and her team have developed an automated machine learning tool that can spot these changes. The tool will help identify the early stages of dementia among older users of sign language – ensuring they get the right support quicker.
Aims
To understand how signing changes when someone has dementia, we analysed videos of BSL users from UCL’s Deafness, Cognition and Language (DCAL) research data archives. We also filmed interviews with 40 older signers – including healthy older people and those with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. A psychologist from UCL – who is a deaf, native signer – helped to carry out the interviews by going to deaf clubs, retirement communities and care homes. While we were filming, there was widespread interest in the project from the deaf community, with many asking us to come back to share our results.