At Butler Hospital, a small but mighty research team is working on something that could change the future of Alzheimer’s care. The DANDI Lab – short for Digital Assessment for Neurodegenerative Disease Detection Improvement – is blending everyday technology with neuroscience to detect cognitive changes earlier than ever before.
Their goal: catch signs of Alzheimer’s before symptoms become too advanced, when treatments can be most effective.
“We’re living in the 21st century, and as older adults become more tech-literate, we need to meet them where they are,” says Molly Lawrence, the study coordinator who serves as the main connection between researchers and participants.
Digital testing brings big advantages:
What sets the DANDI Lab apart isn’t just the technology – it’s the collaboration.
Dr. Louisa Thompson, a neuropsychologist, leads research in primary care, where most cognitive decline goes unnoticed.
Dr. Alyssa De Vito specializes in passive monitoring through smartphones and smartwatches, capturing signs in daily life.
Dr. Zachary Kunicki provides statistical expertise, ensuring these digital tools are accurate and reliable.
The DANDI Lab runs two complementary studies:
1. Digi-Cog (Active Testing)Traditional gold-standard cognitive testing happens in quiet, highly controlled settings. But real life isn’t like that.
“Patients often tell us they’re struggling day-to-day, even when tests show minimal impairment,” says Dr. De Vito. “Real-world thinking happens with distractions – TV on, kids talking – not in silence.”
That’s where passive monitoring shines. It builds a personal baseline, measuring changes over time for everyone instead of just comparing to others of the same age.
Despite the tech focus, relationships remain at the core.
“You can’t be a robot,” says Lawrence. “To build rapport, you have to find common ground, ask how someone’s day is going.”
That personal approach has paid off. When MAP announced the Capture-AD study in an email, 80 people signed up – far more than expected. “People are genuinely excited to be part of this research,” Lawrence says.
Traditional studies often involve hundreds or even thousands of participants, but each person may only be tested once. Digital research flips that.
“We might have 50 to 100 people, but they’re assessed three times a day for a week or longer,” explains Dr. Kunicki. “That gives us an enormous amount of data.”
So far, the results are promising. “We’ve found strong evidence that digital approaches provide nearly the same information as traditional pen-and-paper tests,” Dr. Kunicki reports.
With new Alzheimer’s medications showing the most promise in early stages, the need for early detection is urgent.
“These treatments work best in the earliest stages,” Lawrence notes. “The more time that passes, the less effective they may be.”
Digital tools could also ease pressure on the healthcare system. “If we can reduce the number of people who don’t need to come in and better identify those who do, that’s a huge benefit,” says Dr. De Vito.
For Dr. Thompson, the bigger vision is to make brain health a normal part of primary care. “We want memory and brain health to be as routine to talk about as blood pressure or cholesterol.”
For the DANDI Lab team, this work is personal. Many participants either have memory concerns or have seen loved ones affected by dementia.
“They want to give back because they’ve seen what this disease does to families,” Lawrence explains.
The team gives back too: every participant receives feedback sessions, educational materials, and quick access to Butler’s Memory and Aging Program if needed. “We’re not just collecting data,” Lawrence emphasizes. “We’re providing support.”
As the DANDI Lab grows, its vision is clear: use technology to catch Alzheimer’s before it catches us—one smartphone notification at a time.
To learn more about the DANDI Lab’s research or participation opportunities, visit sites.brown.edu/dandi or contact Molly Lawrence at MoLawrence@butler.org.