Abstract Details

To develop and assess the feasibility of a robust multi-modal platform to remotely monitor motor neuron disease (MND) symptoms and disease progression using wearable sensors and digital assessments of speech, handwriting, and pattern-tracing skills.

Participants with MND were enrolled for up to 12 months of remote monitoring.   They wore PAMSys ^TM pendant sensors for the duration of study to measure physical activity, walking parameters, postural transition, and falls during activities of daily living. Digital speech and handwriting and pattern tracing skill assessments were performed using the BioDigit Home^TM (BioSensics LLC) tablet on biweekly basis.

To date, nine participants have been enrolled (4 female), with a median age of 69 years (range 44-2 years). High compliance for the pendant-sensor-based physical activity monitoring was observed and provided a reliable tool to assess fall risk in patients with MND (with some subjects having up to 1.5 confirmed falls per week and one reported near fall per week). Furthermore, on average, subjects completed 91.9% (range 53.8%-100%) of assigned speech task. 88% of the participants were able to perform handwriting and pattern-tracing tasks.

Our preliminary results demonstrate the feasibility of the multi-modal telemonitoring solution to remotely monitor mobility and disease symptoms in MND. The longitudinal monitoring may address the problem of subjective biases, measure functional changes over time, and compensate for the impact of biological variability in intermittent single visits. Patient recruitment and data collection is ongoing, and the most updated results will be presented during the meeting.