Project description
Digital detection of presymptomatic Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative condition that leads to dementia. Symptoms appear late in the course of the disease and thus leave practically no room for correcting the neuronal damage and the impaired memory. The key objective of the EU-funded AD Detect-Prevent project is to develop a method for detecting AD before the onset of symptoms. The method entails the gamification of a cognitive test which is delivered on a digital platform and a mobile application. The idea is not only to detect people at risk of AD but to also provide the necessary preventative training to empower them to stay active for longer.
Objective
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is central to the rapidly growing and crushing ageing challenge that threatens to economically undermine today’s health care system. AD prevalence will grow to over 100m cases in 2050. AD is incurable, but can be prevented. Detecting pre-symptomatic signs of AD in at-risk groups and intervening early may be the only viable solution. Our target is to bring to market a novel ICT tool, named ‘AD Shield’, that screens for and detects pre-symptomatic stage cognitive decline related to AD, and creates a personalized program for each individual user to strengthen weakened cognitive abilities, thus building cognitive reserve and reducing AD risk. Brain+ will collaborate with world leading neuroscientists to validate this ICT tool. Completion of the tasks described in the workplan will secure the remaining development adaptation combination and validation of the existing technological breakthroughs of the Brain+ method and ICT platform, including the Oxford University’s new highly sensitive cognitive assessment method. The end product will be a scientifically validated, effective, economic, engaging and easily accessible method for pre-symptomatic detection of AD and preventative training. 'AD Shield' can be value created and costs saved of up to €60.000 per patient for the healthcare payers, and at EU level saving can amount to €7bn-108bn direct costs per year and €155bn informal care costs per year. Success stemmed from this phase 2 project will also empower AD at-risk groups and allow them to stay active in the labour market for longer. The combination of costs saved will ultimately boost EU competitiveness.
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Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
2300 KOBENHAVN
Denmark
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.