From HLTH 2024: Getting Bold About Brain Health - Dr John Showalter - Linus Health

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Dr. John Showalter is the Chief Strategy Officer at Linus Health, a company focused on early detection of cognitive impairment and dementia. They develop digital cognitive assessments and engagement tools to help people think about their brain health, get diagnosed, and receive lifestyle medicine suggestions.Key Takeaways:

• Linus Health modernized the Minicog test, making it more accurate and accessible for detecting mild cognitive impairment.
• Their digital assessment can be administered by medical assistants, making it easier to integrate into primary care visits.
• The company provides a Brain Health Action Plan to give patients agency over their brain health.
• Linus Health emphasizes the importance of early detection, as 30% of people over 65 have mild cognitive impairment.
• Their approach combines systematic inventive thinking with new technologies to address cognitive health.

Dr. Showalter's journey to Linus Health began with his background in internal medicine and informatics. He worked on various health IT projects, including predicting sepsis and detecting domestic violence in EHRs. His passion for dementia care was sparked by personal experience with his grandmother's rapid decline.
Linus Health's technology aims to catch cognitive issues early when interventions can be most effective. Their assessment tool is designed to be user-friendly and integrated into regular check-ups, potentially reducing the risk of dementia by up to 50% through early intervention.
The company faces the challenge of introducing new ideas about brain health and potential outcomes to both healthcare providers and patients. They focus on providing clear, actionable information and emphasize the importance of brain health alongside other routine health checks.
Looking ahead, Dr. Showalter envisions a future where brain health assessments are as common as blood pressure checks, and where early intervention can significantly impact cognitive health outcomes.
About Dr. John Showalter
John Showalter, MD, MSIS, is board-certified in internal medicine and informatics and serves as Chief Strategy Officer of Linus Health, a digital health company enabling early detection of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Linus Health has won Time Magazine’s Best Inventions and Fast Company’s Innovation by Design awards for its work in bringing the power of digital cognitive assessments to PCPs. Dr. Showalter also practices medicine in Danville, Pa., with a focus on cognitive care and dementia prevention.

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