Texas A&M University has been awarded a Fast Company 2026 Innovation by Design Award for its research into understanding, detecting, and treating neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia. The honor recognizes design-driven solutions across various industries, including health and sustainability.
The award places the university among industry leaders like Adidas, Coca-Cola, Google, and The North Face. Texas A&M won the Innovation by Design large business category, competing against drugmaker Pfizer, with Landor and Deutsche Telekom receiving honorable mentions. The university is also a finalist in the enduring impact category alongside Adobe and Code and Theory, and received an honorable mention in the AI design category.
The project, led by Dr. Mark Benden, a professor of environmental and occupational health in the School of Public Health, centers on the Dementia and Alzheimer’s Research Initiative (DARI). The initiative supports research aimed at improving detection, treatment, and care through an AI-powered "digital human." This interactive avatar guides patients through questions related to apathy while monitoring biomarkers, observing facial expressions, and measuring response times.
Apathy can appear before cognitive decline, characterized by reduced initiation, motivation, and emotional engagement. The system is trained to detect nuanced speech patterns, hesitations, and memory cues indicative of early-stage dementia. Traditional screening methods can be time-consuming and require clinical expertise that is not always accessible.
