Professor Seán Kennelly, Director of the Institute of Memory & Cognition at TUH

In this film - Professor Seán Kennelly explains a new AI-powered technology, driven by a smartphone app hailed a significant breakthrough is helping doctors at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) diagnose early Alzheimer's and supports identification and recovery in many other serious conditions. GaitKeeper measures walking speed which is often referred to by doctors as the “sixth vital sign.”
Professor Seán Kennelly Consultant Geriatrician and Director of the Institute of Memory & Cognition at TUH was lead clinician investigator in the GaitKeeper project. He explains, “Up until now 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 equipment 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. Gone is the need for specialised equipment like sensors, mats, or special clothing. The assessments can be done in nursing homes, GP practices, outpatient clinics, on hospital wards, and even in someone’s own home.”
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.

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Brilliant! Well done 👏👏👏