(R)evolutions in Artificial Intelligence in Dementia and Geriatric Mental Health Care

Abstract

As the population ages, demands for dementia and geriatric mental health care are rapidly growing. At the same time, resources are scarce, which means there is a strong need for innovative approaches to serve older adults.The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help in prevention, diagnosis and treatment in geriatric mental health. By identifying patterns in data, AI can help in gaining insights that are clinically relevant but would otherwise not be possible. Earlier diagnosis or more objective assessments become possible. AI can be incorporated in new treatment modalities for managing symptoms such as in closed-loop stimulation systems or the use of augmented reality. AI can be vital in dealing with the worldwide lack of resources, for example by assisting caregivers or facilitating remote delivery of care.In this General Session we want to go deeper into the new possibilities AI provides for geriatric mental health care. An international panel of experts, who are all active in both clinical care and clinical research, will provide an overview of the state of the art, combined with results of own research studies into this rapidly evolving domain. Practical implications for current and future clinical geriatric mental health care will be made clear.AI can potentially increase access to geriatric mental healthcare, but it also may pose a risk for widening inequity. Moreover, the use of AI comes with specific ethical concerns. These issues will also be addressed in this session.Prof. Maarten Van Den Bossche (KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium) will discuss the possibilities and limitations of AI for better management of neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia, illustrated by own research studies. Prof. Lynn Haslam-Larmer (University Health Network, Toronto, Canada) will present how real-time location systems can provide insights in social interactions and other behaviors of people with dementia. Ir. Hannah Davidoff (KU Leuven and imec, Heverlee, Belgium) will zoom in on detection and analysis of agitation in dementia by multimodal sensing. Prof. Ipsit Vahia (McLean Hospital, Belmont, United States) will provide an overview of the possibilities of extended reality (including virtual reality and augmented reality) for geriatric psychiatry as well as original data from early studies of virtual reality applied to late life mental health.