SMU Associate Professor of Information Systems (Practice) Tan Hwee Pink is the co-principal investigator of a study which developed a novel and promising way to gauge seniors' cognitive functions by using a network of sensors to track their memory, movements and sleep patterns over a period of time. Describing the study results as promising, Assoc Prof Tan said the pilot study – the first of its kind in Singapore – is noteworthy given Singapore's rapidly ageing population and the growing number of elderly diagnosed with dementia. He added that the researchers wanted to detect mild cognitive impairment at an early stage, which could give a senior the best chance to reverse the impairment or at least delay the deterioration with appropriate treatment.