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Sensing Technology to Monitor Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms and to Assess Treatment Response in People With Dementia. A Systematic Review
Husebo BS, Heintz HL, Berge LI, Owoyemi P, Rahman AT, Vahia IV.. Frontiers in pharmacology, 2020-02-04
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background The prevalence of dementia is expected to rapidly increase in the next decades, warranting innovative solutions improving diagnostics, monitoring and resource utilization to facilitate smart housing and living in the nursing home. This systematic review presents a synthesis of research on sensing technology to assess behavioral and psychological symptoms and to monitor treatment response in people with dementia. Methods The literature search included medical peer-reviewed English language publications indexed in Embase, Medline, Cochrane library and Web of Sciences, published up to the 5 th of April 2019. Keywords included MESH terms and phrases synonymous with "dementia", "sensor", "patient", "monitoring", "behavior", and "therapy". Studies applying both cross sectional and prospective designs, either as randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case-control studies were included. The study was registered in PROSPERO 3 rd of May 2019. Results A total of 1,337 potential publications were identified in the search, of which 34 were included in this review after the systematic exclusion process. Studies were classified according to the type of technology used, as (1) wearable sensors, (2) non-wearable motion sensor technologies, and (3) assistive technologies/smart home technologies. Half of the studies investigated how temporarily dense data on motion can be utilized as a proxy for behavior, indicating high validity of using motion data to monitor behavior such as sleep disturbances, agitation and wandering. Further, up to half of the studies represented proof of concept, acceptability and/or feasibility testing. Overall, the technology was regarded as non-intrusive and well accepted. Conclusions Targeted clinical application of specific technologies is poised to revolutionize precision care in dementia as these technologies may be used both by patients and caregivers, and at a systems level to provide safe and effective care. To highlight awareness of legal regulations, data risk assessment, and patient and public involvement, we propose a necessary framework for sustainable ethical innovation in healthcare technology. The success of this field will depend on interdisciplinary cooperation and the advance in sustainable ethic innovation. Systematic review registration PROSPERO, identifier CRD42019134313.
Key findings
- Results A total of 1,337 potential publications were identified in the search, of which 34 were included in this review after the systematic exclusion process.
- Overall, the technology was regarded as non-intrusive and well accepted.
Why it matters
This systematic review examined sensing technology to monitor behavioral and psychological symptoms and treatment response in people with dementia, and found the technology was regarded as non-intrusive and well accepted. It concerns monitoring tools, not a treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designsystematic review
- Participants1,337
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 68/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Frontiers in pharmacology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Frontiers in Pharmacology: journal h-index 242 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,337 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 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 97 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 10.8 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 47 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Ipsit Vihang Vahia: h-index 39 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 32116687) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 68 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01699
- PubMed: 32116687
- Original source →
- Free full text: Frontiers in Pharmacology →
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
Husebo, B. S., Heintz, H. L., Berge, L. I., Owoyemi, P., Rahman, A. T., & Vahia, IV. (2019). Sensing Technology to Monitor Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms and to Assess Treatment Response in People With Dementia. A Systematic Review. Frontiers in pharmacology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2019.01699
Vancouver
Husebo BS, Heintz HL, Berge LI, Owoyemi P, Rahman AT, Vahia IV. Sensing Technology to Monitor Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms and to Assess Treatment Response in People With Dementia. A Systematic Review. Frontiers in pharmacology. 2019. doi:10.3389/fphar.2019.01699. PMID: 32116687.
BibTeX
@article{husebo2019-32116687,
author = {Husebo, B. S. and Heintz, H. L. and Berge, L. I. and Owoyemi, P. and Rahman, A. T. and Vahia, IV.},
title = {{Sensing Technology to Monitor Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms and to Assess Treatment Response in People With Dementia. A Systematic Review}},
journal = {Frontiers in pharmacology},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.3389/fphar.2019.01699},
pmid = {32116687},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2019.01699}
}
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