Ecological Cognitive Monitoring through AI-Enhanced Personal Photo Activities

PROJECT SUMMARY Almost 7 million Americans have dementia, yet doctors can only detect memory problems after significant decline has occurred, missing the chance for early treatment when it's most effective. A further 30 million or more people potentially having early-stage disease symptoms, and this crisis affects not just patients but also over 11 million family caregivers. Momento is a smartphone app that helps solve this problem by turning everyday photo activities into a way to track brain health. The app lets older adults enjoy personalized games created from their own pictures, while its technology quietly monitors their interactions to detect early signs of memory changes. What makes Momento unique is that it transforms regular photo activities that people already enjoy into sensitive measures of brain health, while avoiding the anxiety and cultural biases of traditional tests. Unlike clinical assessments that feel stressful and are only done occasionally, Momento gathers rich information naturally through daily engagement with cherished memories, adapting its activities to each user's interests and abilities. In Phase I, we will: (1) test how well 200 older adults like and use the app, ensuring they enjoy it enough for regular use, and (2) verify our system can accurately assess brain health by comparing results with gold standard memory screening tests in 40 participants. In Phase II, we'll expand to 2,000 participants to improve our system across different populations and prepare for FDA approval as a medical device. We'll also develop personalized reports that help both users and healthcare providers track changes over time, creating a new standard for continuous brain health monitoring. The business opportunity is significant - we can serve 300,000 doctors who do memory testing (with Medicare covering $242 per assessment) and contribute to the $3 billion digital health testing and therapy market for older adults. By making brain health monitoring part of an enjoyable daily activity, Momento will help doctors catch problems sooner while advancing our scientific understanding of how memory problems develop.