The earliest signs of cognitive decline often appear not in a formal diagnosis, but in the small clues buried in health care providers' notes.
A new study published Jan. 7 in the journal npj Digital Medicine suggests artificial intelligence (AI) can help identify these early signals — such as issues with memory and thinking or changes in behavior — by scanning doctor's notes for patterns of concern. These might include recurring mentions of cognitive changes or confusion from the patient, or worries mentioned by family members attending the appointment with their loved one.
