Research Institute for Smart Ageing drives technological innovation in healthy ageing
Research Institute for Smart Ageing (RISA) is dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research in healthy ageing with the integration of medical engineering and artificial intelligence (AI) healthcare technologies, bringing forth personalised therapeutic and care solutions.
Ir Prof. ZHENG Yongping, Director of RISA, Henry G. Leong Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Chair Professor of Biomedical Engineering, has pioneered the 3D ultrasound imaging technology for muscle assessment. This innovation can provide detailed visualisation of muscle structures, enable healthcare professionals to analyse patients’ gait and movement patterns based on the 3D images and assess risks of muscle loss through AI-driven motion analysis. Additionally, it offers visualized strength training guidance to elders, thereby achieving the aim to prevent, delay and reverse sarcopenia. Prof. Zheng highlighted that the technology could also be applied on the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. By pinpointing lesions in specific midbrain regions through image analysis, the technology can help improving diagnostic accuracy and evaluating risks for stroke among older adults.
Prof. Angela LEUNG Yee-man, Associate Director of RISA and Associate Head (Research) of the School of Nursing, Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services, focuses on implementing the “intrinsic capacity” theory and the “Integrated Care for Older People” (ICOPE) model. Her team has developed a rapid screening tool which employs a standardised assessment framework to identify the health needs among older adults, empower them to maintain independence and facilitate quality of life. Through interdisciplinary collaboration between experts in nursing, physiotherapy, nutrition and speech therapy, her team has designed dual-task training programmes for individuals with mild cognitive impairment. They incorporate samba dance cognitive training, tablet-based remote support system, nutrition plans, physical exercises and cognitive tasks to foster functioning of senior citizens.
Prof. Elaine KWONG Yee-lan, Associate Director of RISA, Associate Professor in the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies and a speech therapist, is committed to develop ultrasound-based assessment tools that are portable and powered by AI algorithms for swallowing assessment. This technology addresses the gap of traditional method, allowing swallowing assessments to be conducted in community or home settings without utilising X-rays and invasive endoscopy, thereby significantly enhance diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. Through continuous interdisciplinary collaboration, RISA will commit to propel medical innovation with expanding its international collaborative network, positioning itself as a leader in global smart ageing research and innovation.
Online coverage:
Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/3F1PWnH (Chinese only)
智齡研究院致力推動跨學科健康老齡化研究，透過結合醫學工程與人工智能醫療科技，將科研成果轉化為個人化治療及關護方案。
研究院院長、梁顯利生物醫學工程教授、生物醫學工程學系講座教授鄭永平教授，首創應用於肌肉測量的三維超聲波成像技術。該技術能清晰呈現肌肉結構，讓醫護人員可透過三維影像分析患者行走功能與肌肉運動模式，結合人工智能動作分析以評估其肌肉流失風險。該技術亦以可視化的方式引導長者進行肌肉訓練，從而實現預防、延緩及逆轉肌少症的目標。鄭教授指出此技術亦能應用於診斷柏金遜症，透過分析中腦特定區域影像，精準定位病變，提升診斷的準確度，同時可用於評估長者中風風險。
研究院副院長兼護理學院副學院主任（研究）、世界衛生組織社區健康服務合作中心總監梁綺雯教授，專注於實踐「內在能力」理論與「長者綜合護理」模型。她的團隊開發的快速篩查工具以標準化評估框架辨識長者健康需要，有助提升他們的自主生活能力與生活品質。梁教授的團隊與護理、物理治療、營養學及言語治療的專家合作，設計出針對輕度認知障礙患者的雙重任務訓練方案。方案包含森巴舞認知訓練、平板遠距支援系統並結合營養計劃、體能鍛鍊與認知任務以提升長者身體機能。
同為研究院副院長的中文及雙語學系副教授兼言語治療師鄺伊蘭教授，致力於開發便攜且由人工智慧（AI）算法驅動的超聲波評估工具，以用於吞嚥評估。此技術填補傳統方式的不足，讓吞嚥評估得以在社區及居家內進行，毋須使用X光造影與入侵性內窺鏡，大幅提升診斷效率與準確度。
智齡研究院會繼續透過跨專業協作，推動醫學創新發展並積極拓展國際合作網絡，引領全球的智齡研究與創新。
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星島頭條 - https://polyu.me/3F1PWnH
