Alzheimer’s disease dementia, the most common form of dementia, accounts for 60–70% of cases worldwide. With the global population over 65 growing rapidly, the number of people affected is rising sharply. To raise awareness, the World Health Organization and Alzheimer’s Disease International designated September 21 as World Alzheimer’s Day.
Ahead of this year’s observance, Samsung Newsroom is spotlighting Samsung Research’s work on digital biomarkers for the early detection of dementia.
Why Early Diagnosis Matters
Alzheimer’s disease is both incurable and irreversible. Once symptoms emerge, cognitive decline steadily worsens, disrupting daily life.
A key focus in prevention is mild cognitive impairment (MCI), often a precursor to dementia. While people with MCI can still manage daily activities, studies show that 10–15% progress to dementia each year. Changes in the brain may begin 10–20 years before Alzheimer’s symptoms appear, underscoring the importance of early detection.
Early diagnosis provides significant benefits, including:
- Adopting healthier lifestyles (diet, exercise, cognitive training) to delay progression
- Starting treatments earlier to preserve cognitive abilities
- Accessing new or trial-stage therapies sooner
Harnessing Digital Biomarkers
Smartphones and wearables are now part of everyday life — continuously collecting rich behavioral data. Samsung researchers recognized their potential to detect cognitive decline by analyzing multimodal data, such as:
- Typing speed, corrections, and app usage
- Messaging and call frequency
- Sleep patterns and mobility
- Voice recordings
By mapping these signals to known indicators of decline — such as language fluency, short-term memory, and social behavior — Samsung developed digital biomarker algorithms capable of tracking subtle cognitive changes.
Research Highlights
At the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS) Conference in Copenhagen this July, Samsung Research presented studies demonstrating the promise of digital biomarkers:
- Typing Behavior Analysis
Using smartphone keyboard input patterns, researchers detected early signs of cognitive impairment by examining nonverbal features like speed and correction patterns, rather than content, minimizing privacy risks. The approach, which works across languages, ranked in the top 7% of papers at the conference. - Walking Pattern Monitoring
Data from Galaxy Watch sensors captured gait speed, stride length, and balance — all linked to cognitive health. The results showed performance on par with hospital-based screening tests.
These studies highlight how everyday data can be transformed into powerful insights, eliminating the need for invasive testing or active input from users.
Toward Better Quality of Life
Samsung’s digital biomarker technology aims to make early, unobtrusive detection of Alzheimer’s possible in daily life. By working with academic and medical partners, Samsung Research continues to refine its models, validate results, and improve accuracy.
The goal: to enable earlier intervention, improve personal health, enhance quality of life, and reduce strain on healthcare systems as dementia cases rise worldwide.
