VitaNexus develops AI-powered monitoring of cognitive health

As populations live longer, researchers are warning that the number of people affected by dementia is expected to rise sharply in the coming decades. Early-stage startup VitaNexus aims to address that challenge with artificial intelligence.

The Milwaukee-based startup is developing an AI platform designed to help people better understand and proactively manage cognitive health before noticeable decline occurs. Founded in April 2025 by Irina Petrakova-Otto, the company is building technology that analyzes patterns in speech and storytelling to identify subtle shifts in cognitive health that may otherwise go unnoticed.

“Most cognitive assessments happen episodically, during a doctor’s visit,” Petrakova-Otto said. “But our daily lives contain far more information about how we think, communicate and remember.”

Turning conversation into data

VitaNexus is developing a voice-first AI platform built around conversational “coaches” that engage users in guided discussions. The first coach, called Leo, encourages users to share personal stories through structured reminiscence-style conversations. While users reflect on memories, the system analyzes speech characteristics such as pacing, word choice and conversational patterns over time.

Rather than functioning as a diagnostic tool, the platform aims to track changes longitudinally, observing trends across months or years instead of relying on a single clinical assessment.

Petrakova-Otto believes this continuous approach could provide individuals and caregivers with a clearer picture of cognitive health. The company is also developing what it calls a “brain score,” intended to help users understand changes in their own communication patterns relative to their personal baseline.

“We’re not diagnosing disease,” she said. “We’re trying to help people understand trends and give them information earlier, when they can still act on it.”

A preventive approach to brain health

The company’s broader vision extends beyond monitoring speech. Petrakova-Otto said VitaNexus aims to build a proactive cognitive health platform that integrates lifestyle factors such as sleep, stress, nutrition and physical activity.

She believes environmental and behavioral factors play a significant role in cognitive health, an idea supported by growing research into preventable risk factors associated with dementia and cognitive decline. By combining conversational data with daily habits, like reminders to take walks, stay hydrated or revisit meaningful memories, the platform becomes what Petrakova-Otto describes as a supportive digital companion focused on maintaining independence and well-being.

The approach also addresses a growing social challenge: isolation among older adults. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 27.6% of all U.S. occupied households were one-person households in 2020. VitaNexus allows users to share recorded stories with family members or trusted contacts, creating what the company calls a “memory circle” that encourages human connection alongside AI interaction.

“We want technology to support relationships, not replace them,” Petrakova-Otto said.

Building toward an MVP

VitaNexus is currently developing a minimum viable product expected later this year. The initial release will focus on voice-based storytelling, memory sharing and early versions of speech analysis features.

As development progresses, Petrakova-Otto is seeking partnerships with universities and clinicians to help validate the platform’s approach and refine how insights could integrate into existing healthcare workflows. The company is also exploring collaborations with researchers across cognitive science, artificial intelligence and linguistics, fields she said must work together to advance the technology responsibly.

“Our goal is to help people stay independent longer and better understand their own cognitive health,” Petrakova-Otto said. “If we can give people earlier awareness and practical tools, that’s where technology can make a real difference.”