The Path Forward to Advancing Care for Dementia Patients - HealthTech Magazine

Current efforts range from AI-powered diagnostic models and assistive-intelligence systems to socially assistive robots, some being tested in real home environments.

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Texas A&M University Health Aims to Improve Early Detection

At Texas A&M University Health, researchers with the Dementia and Alzheimer’s Research Initiative are developing an AI-powered “digital human” system designed to identify early dementia indicators, including apathy, before measurable cognitive decline becomes apparent. ## Quality Dementia Care Requires a Human Touch

Maintaining a balance between safety, privacy and human autonomy remains critical as these systems become more autonomous, says Sajay Arthanat, professor of occupational therapy at the University of New Hampshire.

“The robot realistically cannot and must not replace the human caregiver,” Arthanat says.

However, socially assistive robots could eventually play a larger role in helping older adults age in place, though widespread deployment will depend on broader industry investment and continued advancements in AI and robotics.

“Tailoring it to the unique care demands within a home as well as to human sensibilities is key,” Arthanat says. Aging-care robots must interpret their surroundings with “the highest precision,” Begum says, because a single failure in the perception or decision-making pipeline could create safety risks for vulnerable patients.

The system uses personalized AI models tailored to individual homes and patient needs. “Without meaningful personalization, individual care goals simply cannot be met,” she adds.

7.4 million

The estimated number of Americans age 65 and older living with clinical Alzheimer’s dementia

Source: Alzheimer’s Association, 2026 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, April 2026

Quality Dementia Care Requires a Human Touch