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Classifying Alzheimer’s wandering and apathetic behaviours using indoor and outdoor localization data
Sara Comai, Andrea Masciadri, Fabio Salice. Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Smart Environments, 2025-02-18
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease, is increasing due to population ageing and is projected to nearly triple by 2050. Understanding and identifying common behaviours such as apathy, depression, and wandering can enable caregivers and medical professionals to enhance the quality of care for patients and implement appropriate interventions to mitigate cognitive decline. This paper analyses localization data collected from patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease residing in a healthcare facility. In particular, metrics and behavioural indices are computed to classify the behaviour of individuals. The proposed method was initially applied to the localization data of seven residents, each exhibiting distinct behaviours. Subsequently, validation was conducted using data from 46 patients monitored over three months. Classification results were compared with the observations made by healthcare operators and physicians. The study demonstrated a high level of accuracy in classifying patients into different behavioural domains, such as wandering and depressed–apathetic, with 42 out of 46 cases correctly classified.
Key findings
- Classification results were compared with the observations made by healthcare operators and physicians.
- The study demonstrated a high level of accuracy in classifying patients into different behavioural domains, such as wandering and depressed–apathetic, with 42 out of 46 cases correctly classified.
Why it matters
Using indoor and outdoor location data, this study classified wandering and apathetic behaviour in people with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease, correctly classifying 42 of 46 cases. It is a monitoring and behaviour-classification method, not a treatment or cure.
Study details
- Participants46
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 36/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Smart Environments) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Smart Environments: journal h-index 46 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 46 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Fabio Salice: h-index 20 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Politecnico di Milano: institution h-index 545 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 36 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1177/18761364241306100
- Original source →
- Free full text: Virtual Community of Pathological Anatomy (University of Castilla La Mancha) →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Comai, S., Masciadri, A., & Salice, F. (2025). Classifying Alzheimer’s wandering and apathetic behaviours using indoor and outdoor localization data. Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Smart Environments. https://doi.org/10.1177/18761364241306100
Vancouver
Comai S, Masciadri A, Salice F. Classifying Alzheimer’s wandering and apathetic behaviours using indoor and outdoor localization data. Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Smart Environments. 2025. doi:10.1177/18761364241306100.
BibTeX
@article{comai2025-0494cd1d,
author = {Comai, Sara and Masciadri, Andrea and Salice, Fabio},
title = {{Classifying Alzheimer’s wandering and apathetic behaviours using indoor and outdoor localization data}},
journal = {Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Smart Environments},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1177/18761364241306100},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/18761364241306100}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.