Innovation for personalised dementia medicine.

We have developed a software system which supports clinical decision making to enhance the timely diagnosis of dementia. The DEmentia identification COmputerized DEcision support system (DECODE) is an evidence-based computerised decision support system. Our intelligent system was designed in partnership with patients, carers and healthcare professionals to help clinicians identify dementia ‘disease signatures’ earlier and more accurately.

DECODE draws on patient data from around the world using machine learning and statistical methods. The system takes into account a diverse range of key dementia predictors which are combined to produce personalised feedback for each patient. DECODE is considerably more accurate than the current ‘gold standard’ brief cognitive assessments such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the General Practitioner assessment of Cognition (GPCOG). See this Blog for information about the anticipated impact on memory clinic waiting times.

We are trialling DECODE in both primary and secondary care with the aim of increasing the number of patients with dementia identified, reducing unnecessary referrals and assessments, and reducing memory clinic waiting times and costs. Initial feedback from clinicians has been very positive, and we now aim to implement DECODE more widely. The DECODE system has been Highly Commended by AXA Healthcare in their Heroes of Health Tech award for Innovations in the Early Diagnosis of Dementia.