AI-Powered ECG Analysis Shows Promise in Detecting Cognitive Decline

Research presented at the upcoming American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2025 suggests that artificial intelligence analysis of electrocardiogram (ECG) data may serve as an early warning system for cognitive decline and premature aging. The preliminary study, involving over 63,000 participants from the UK Biobank, demonstrates a significant correlation between AI-predicted biological age from ECG data and cognitive performance.

The study, led by researchers at UMass Chan Medical School, utilized a deep neural network to analyze ECG data and predict participants' biological age. Those whose ECG-predicted age was younger than their chronological age performed better on six out of eight cognitive tests, while those with accelerated ECG aging showed worse performance on the same number of tests.

This development could have far-reaching implications for healthcare delivery. The potential ability to use routine ECG tests as a screening tool for cognitive decline could make early detection more accessible, particularly in rural areas or regions lacking specialist care. It could also enable more objective and efficient cognitive assessments compared to traditional neuropsychological testing methods.

While the study has limitations, including its focus on a primarily European ancestry population and a specific age range of 43-85 years, it opens new possibilities for preventive healthcare. Dr. Fernando D. Testai, who chairs the American Heart Association's scientific statement on Cardiac Contributions to Brain Health, suggests that if validated, this approach could revolutionize how cognitive health is monitored, potentially allowing for earlier interventions when cognitive decline is detected.

The research underscores the growing understanding of the connection between heart and brain health, suggesting that routine cardiac monitoring could provide valuable insights into cognitive function. This could be particularly significant given the increasing prevalence of age-related cognitive decline in global populations.