Dementia and digital health – progress report

The Alzheimer’s Society estimates that there are 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, a figure that is projected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040. At the moment, there is no cure for the condition and no real way of treating it, although research is continuing all the time. However, a range of digital health innovations could alleviate the worst of the symptoms, and may even go some way to preventing it.

Dementia is a term covering a range of different conditions, all of which manifest themselves in a deterioration of cognitive function, such as memory loss, difficulty concentrating and mood changes.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75 per cent of those diagnosed.

Other types of dementia include: vascular dementia, which affects up to 20 per cent of those diagnosed; frontotemporal dementia, which affects two per cent; and dementia with Lewy bodies, which accounts for between 10 and 15 per cent.

However, while there is no treatment for any of the types of dementia, tech is playing its part in improving the outlook.

Brain training

When it comes to cognitive function, many scientists believe it’s a case of use it or lose it.

As such, they encourage taking part in regular mental activities designed to help maintain or even increase a person’s cognitive abilities, such as attention, reasoning and problem solving.

Over recent years, brain training activities have become more advanced, harnessing the power of tech to offer apps and games that can improve cognitive function.

Apps such as BrainHQ offer a full range of activities focusing on different elements of the brain, such as memory, attention and brain speed.

And in 2017, a team from the University of Cambridge created an app called Game Show, to help users improve their attention and concentration. Results showed that patients who played the game improved their memory score by around 40 per cent.

While more research is needed into whether brain training can definitely prevent dementia, it can definitely help to sharpen cognitive skills – which can only be a good thing.

Virtual reality

In 2019, a study demonstrated how virtual reality, or VR could help even those with advanced dementia.

The research was led by Dr. Chee Siang (Jim) Ang, a senior lecturer from University of Kent, and used VR devices on eight patients in a psychiatric facility.

Each participant used a VR headset to visit five virtual locations: the countryside, a sandy beach, a rocky beach, a cathedral, and a forest. The patients got to choose their own environment.

The team found that VR helped the participants recall old memories, by offering new stimuli that they could otherwise not attain due to illness or inaccessibility.

It also gave caregivers a way of learning more about the patients’ lives, which improved their social interactions, allowing for more holistic care.

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is often used to spot patterns, meaning it is a useful tool in diagnosing conditions and illnesses.

In 2021, scientists from Cambridge University and The Alan Turing Institute developed machine learning tools which can detect dementia in patients up to 15 to 20 years earlier than current processes.

Cellular changes to the brain usually occur a number of years before symptoms appear and it can take a long time and multiple hospital visits to diagnose dementia.

However, the new technology spots structural changes to the brain from a single brain scan by identifying patterns using previous research and memory tests. The findings provide a prognostic score, which is the likelihood of the patient having the disease.

Digital assistants

Voice-activated tech such as Siri and Alexa can bring huge benefits to the health and wellbeing of people with dementia and their carers.

An NHS Digital project in 2020 loaned technology such as iPads and Alexa devices to support groups and Memory Cafes, as well as given to carers to use at home.

The technology had an incredibly positive impact, with one carer saying it had “changed her and her dad’s life” after she used it for medication, exercise and appointment reminders.

Other users reported that the devices had made them feel less isolated, as well as offering practical benefits, such as enabling them to manage medication or get health information.

In addition to loaning out technology, the Leeds Dementia Pathfinder – which was run by 100% Digital Leeds alongside community partners – provided training and resources for users to ensure they made the most of the equipment.

A simple smartphone

Around 80 per cent of the world’s population owns a smartphone, and while the younger generation may use theirs for gaming and streaming, they can provide vital support for dementia patients too.

Results from a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that older adults with mild dementia can learn to use smartphone memory aids to help them remember to complete everyday tasks.

In the study, 52 older adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia were trained how to use a digital voice recorder or reminder app.

After four weeks, participants reported improvements in performing regular daily tasks, with greater usage of the apps associated with better results.