The Upper Grand FHT & partners receive funding for AI-powered brain health program

As Canada marks Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, a health innovation team has been awarded funding from the Government of Ontario to pilot a groundbreaking brain health assessment and risk management program powered by predictive analytics and artificial intelligence. Offered in multiple healthcare settings across the province, the program will improve access to services, independence to age in place, and quality of life for patients and caregivers.

The technology platform, BrainFX, combines leading neuroscience data with cutting edge software to enable early detection of subtle or mild-to-moderate changes in brain function as well as strategies to slow or reverse cognitive decline. Using the data collected through BrainFX assessments and artificial intelligence, Thoughtwire will develop an Early Identification Application that can identify individuals at-risk by scanning electronic medical records.

Research shows that early detection and intervention is essential to enabling seniors to remain at home for as long as possible, alleviating burden on individuals and family caregivers, and slowing the progression of brain-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.

The health innovation team is being led by Saint Elizabeth Health Care and includes partner organizations BrainFX, ThoughtWire Corp., Wilfrid Laurier University, Southlake Regional Health Centre, and four Family Health Teams in the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (Upper Grand FHT, Two Rivers FHT, Mount Forest FHT, and the Centre for Family Medicine FHT).

The Government of Ontario recently announced grants for 12 new projects through its Health Technologies Fund. The grant for this project totals $493,000, with matching in-kind contributions from the partner organizations. More information about the initiative is included in this press release.