Home-Based Cognitive Testing Shows Promise for ALS and FTD Patients

The CNS-102 study, conducted in partnership with the PRECISIONALS initiative at Trinity College Dublin, followed 28 participants over eight months. Researchers utilized a 16-channel wireless EEG headset paired with tablet-based gamified tasks to monitor executive function, memory, and speech. Despite the physical challenges faced by patients with motor impairment, the technology proved highly accessible. Participants reported a mean System Usability Scale score of 89, with 82% of those living with ALS rating the platform as easy to use.

Beyond usability, the data suggests the platform provides clinical value. The system identified longitudinal signals in speech fluency and emotion recognition that standard in-clinic assessments failed to capture. According to Brian Murphy, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Cumulus, the platform’s ability to generate research-grade data from a home environment offers a pathway to more sensitive, patient-centered clinical trials. While these findings serve as proof-of-concept, the research team notes that larger cohorts are necessary to fully validate these digital biomarkers for broader clinical application.