Detecting Abnormal Behaviors in Dementia Patients Using Lifelog Data: A Machine Learning Approach

Abstract

In this paper, a proof-of-concept method for detecting abnormal behavior in dementia patients based on a single case study is proposed. This method incorporates the collection of lifelog data using affordable sensors and the development of a machine-learning-based system. Such an approach has the potential to enable the prompt detection of abnormal behavior in dementia patients within nursing homes and to send alerts to caregivers, which could potentially reduce their workload and decrease the risk of accidents and injuries. In a proof-of-concept experiment conducted on a single dementia patient in a Korean nursing home, the proposed system, specifically the multilayer perceptron model, demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving an accuracy of 0.99, a precision of 1.00, a recall of 1.00, and an F1 score of 1.00. While being cost-effective and adaptable to various nursing homes, these results should be interpreted as preliminary, being based on a limited sample. Future research is aimed at validating and improving the performance of the abnormal behavior detection system by expanding the experiments to include lifelog data from multiple nursing homes and a larger cohort of dementia patients. The potential application of this system extends beyond healthcare and medical fields, reaching into smart home environments and various other facilities. This study underscores the potential of this system to enhance patient safety, alleviate family concerns, and reduce societal costs, thereby contributing to the improvement of the quality of life for dementia patients.