Gait, which has frequently been described as the “sixth vital sign” is regarded as an excellent predictor of the onset of many physical and neurological illnesses. GaitKeeper is a novel system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) to aid doctors in the diagnosis process of early Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and arthritis.

For patients with chronic diseases such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or arthritis, walking speed serves as an indicator of disease progression and response to treatment. Doctors at TUH believe that including walking speed assessments in regular clinical practice can significantly enhance patient care by providing a clear and objective measure of an individual's functional abilities and overall health status.

Falls are another significant cause of health decline as people get older, and are associated with over €500 million healthcare costs in Ireland annually. An exciting project led by Dr Paul McElwaine, Director of Falls Unit in TUH will use GaitKeeper in the Hospital Falls service, to estimate people’s risk of falling, and thereby direct them towards interventions to prevent that fall happening.

AI-powered technology, driven by software developed by Dublin City University Principal Investigator Dr Aidan Boran working in conjunction with consultants, physiotherapists, and patients at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) is now helping diagnose early-Alzheimer’s disease.

The system is accessed via a front-end mobile app that has been designed to measure walking speed and conduct intricate gait assessments, in virtually any location, which results in the indication of potential diseases from very early on. Through the gathering of longitudinal data on walking speed, support base, symmetry measures, swing, and flexion, this app and back-end system will allow doctors to take progressive measures to support patients’ needs.

 The ‘GaitKeeper’ project is being used in Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) helping doctors diagnose early Alzheimer's, and is supporting identification and recovery in many other serious conditions. Working in conjunction with consultants, physiotherapists, and patients at the hospital, and supported by the TUH Innovation Centre, Dr Aidan Boran has developed AI powered software which can detect chronic diseases such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or arthritis by measuring walking speed in a process known as ‘gait analysis.’

Up until now the effectiveness of gait analysis in clinical settings has been very limited, not because it is not important, but due to the expense, inaccuracies, high level of training required and the space that the equipment needed for very accurate measurement takes up. This new technology changes all of that. Using AI and AR, the GaitKeeper app captures over 20 points on a person’s body, 60 times per second as they walk, using a phone. This app represents a significant breakthrough and means gait assessments can be conducted by anyone, anywhere, at any time.

The GaitKeeper technology is a CE marked, class one medical device and is now available to buy on license from DCU spin-out company Digital Gait Labs.