AI App Accurately Identifies Seniors with Pre-Dementia

Singapore General Hospital (SGH) has developed a new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital application, Pensieve-AI, designed to identify seniors experiencing early signs of cognitive decline or pre-dementia. The app reportedly achieves up to 93% accuracy in detecting these conditions within a five-minute timeframe.

The Pensieve-AI tool moves beyond traditional screening methods, such as drawing a clock face or recalling unrelated words. Instead, it prompts users to draw various pictures on a tablet. The app's AI then analyzes these drawings to assess different aspects of thinking and memory. Developed jointly by SGH and the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech), the application is scheduled for release in 2026.

According to Dr. Liew Tau Ming, a senior consultant in psychiatry at SGH, the Pensieve-AI test comprises four drawing tasks, including a clock drawing exercise. He stated that seniors can complete the test independently in approximately 3.5 minutes, a significant reduction from current methods that can take up to 30 minutes and require trained staff.

The development process for Pensieve-AI began in June 2020, with a nationwide study involving nearly 1,800 seniors aged 65 and above commencing in June 2021. The app will not be available on smartphones to prevent memorization of drawing patterns, and is expected to be deployed at community sites via tablets.

With Singapore's population aging, projections indicate a substantial rise in dementia cases. By 2030, it is estimated that approximately 80,000 of Singapore's nearly one million seniors may have dementia. Pre-dementia, or mild cognitive impairment, can manifest as increased memory lapses and difficulties with daily tasks, often being mistaken for normal aging.