Periodic Reporting for period 7 - AD Detect-Prevent (Alzheimer's Disease (AD) Detect & Prevent - Presymptomatic AD detection and prevention)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2021-11-01 al 2022-04-30
It is estimated that approximately 9 million people in Europe are living with dementia. This number is expected to increase to 14 million by 2040. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common conditions leading to dementia as it is the underlying cause in 70% of people with dementia. Disorders such as dementia are among the leading causes of death and disability and have a great impact on the lives of people with the condition, their relatives, and society.
Despite the high prevalence of AD across Europe, detecting this condition before symptoms appear can be extremely challenging and diagnosis often occurs late in the disease process. Very often, when this condition is diagnosed, the progression of the disease has already caused irreversible damage such as impaired memory, thought processes, behaviour, and social skills.
The Alzheimer’s Detect and Prevent (ADDP) project was conceived with the ambitious objective of creating a precise digital method of detecting Alzheimer’s disease many years or even decades prior to the onset or diagnosis of the disease, in which case many only have a few years left. The project is a collaboration to digitize, develop, and gamify a unique cognitive test paradigm developed by Oxford University clinicians and researchers, and deliver it on the Brain+ app and platform. But early pre-clinical detection alone was only seen as one half of the solution to addressing the burden of AD. What would a person with AD or discovered to have early symptoms of AD be told to do? The medicines only work for 25% and only provide symptom relief.
Hence the second objective of the project, “prevent”, which we more conservatively refer to as “risk reduction”. To date, there is no treatment that can cure, prevent or slow down the progression of AD. However, data released by Lancet in 2017 reported preliminary evidence that modifying certain lifestyle factors could prevent or delay 1/3 of AD cases. The project aims to offer digitally delivered and supported training and behavioural health programs that will help reduce the risk of the disease and potentially slow the progression of the disease. The programs are drawing on cognitive neuroscience to deliver cognitive training aiming to strengthen cognitive reserve and drawing on behavioural change and health paradigms, targeting the reduction of lifestyle risk factors for AD.
Despite the high prevalence of AD across Europe, detecting this condition before symptoms appear can be extremely challenging and diagnosis often occurs late in the disease process. Very often, when this condition is diagnosed, the progression of the disease has already caused irreversible damage such as impaired memory, thought processes, behaviour, and social skills.
The Alzheimer’s Detect and Prevent (ADDP) project was conceived with the ambitious objective of creating a precise digital method of detecting Alzheimer’s disease many years or even decades prior to the onset or diagnosis of the disease, in which case many only have a few years left. The project is a collaboration to digitize, develop, and gamify a unique cognitive test paradigm developed by Oxford University clinicians and researchers, and deliver it on the Brain+ app and platform. But early pre-clinical detection alone was only seen as one half of the solution to addressing the burden of AD. What would a person with AD or discovered to have early symptoms of AD be told to do? The medicines only work for 25% and only provide symptom relief.
Hence the second objective of the project, “prevent”, which we more conservatively refer to as “risk reduction”. To date, there is no treatment that can cure, prevent or slow down the progression of AD. However, data released by Lancet in 2017 reported preliminary evidence that modifying certain lifestyle factors could prevent or delay 1/3 of AD cases. The project aims to offer digitally delivered and supported training and behavioural health programs that will help reduce the risk of the disease and potentially slow the progression of the disease. The programs are drawing on cognitive neuroscience to deliver cognitive training aiming to strengthen cognitive reserve and drawing on behavioural change and health paradigms, targeting the reduction of lifestyle risk factors for AD.
The kick-off meeting of the ‘AD Detect and Prevent’ project was held on 23rd November 2018 and since then, the project has been progressing well. Researchers at Oxford and Brain+ have pilot tested the ADDP solution, from which valuable insights were gained. The work involves close collaboration between academia and industry. Key work and main results include: based on user and pilot testing results, one of the four prototypes of the AD detection test developed in previous reporting period has been chosen for further refinement, iteration and integration. The AD detection test has been pivotal for the consortium’s co-development process of the adapted gamified version of the Alzheimer’s disease detection test, and many refinements and improvements to the original design specifications have been achieved as a consequence. The AD detection component was further iterated, improved based on rigorous testing, adapted to the different scientific study designs, and ultimately it was delivered on time and in great quality for the planned scientific investigations.
Meanwhile, specifications for the AD risk reduction component (cognitive training and lifestyle risk reduction programs) was further refined and adapted to the specific patient segment. The technical platform is fully prototyped, and the lifestyle programme content has been partially prototyped, with the remainder planned to be implemented in the coming period.
The scientific studies progressed well with the Oxford and Aarhus University trials are continuing its main phase of the investigation through the coronavirus pandemic when circumstances allow. The coronavirus crisis has had and will have a significant impact on the overall project’s timeline, and with the largest impact on the scientific studies (involving testing of humans participants). A number of actions has been initiated by the consortium to mitigate the impact as much as possible, e.g. Oxford began testing the AD detection test remotely, so the study could at least proceed, albeit at a slower pace. However, this was not possible for all the studies as in-person testing is a necessity for some trials, including both Aarhus and Nottingham studies.
Five PPI sessions have been successfully conducted so far, focusing on issues relating to cognitive screening and cognitive training technologies, as well as more general topics such as trust in technologies, digital device and motivation.
In parallel, go-to-market strategy and evidence strategy have been further explored and analysed, concrete action plans have been established. In the meantime, comprehensive dissemination activates continue and will intensify as more we gain more tangible production and study results in the coming months. The project is continuously warmly received by patients, clinicians, researchers and industry alike as a both meaningful and important effort.
The consortium has secured a 12-month project extension. Although this is unfortunate, such an extension can and will yield several benefits if utilized properly. Especially this is an opportunity to mature the product/technical solution even more in terms of usability and content and to build a stronger foundation for commercialization, while the delayed scientific studies are completed.
On the ethics front, all consortium partners that handle sensitive personal data have conducted a Data Protection Impact Assessment.
More information about the project on its website below and twitter account:
@addp_eu
Acknowledgement: This project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme – Fast Track to Innovation (FTI), grant agreement 820636.
Meanwhile, specifications for the AD risk reduction component (cognitive training and lifestyle risk reduction programs) was further refined and adapted to the specific patient segment. The technical platform is fully prototyped, and the lifestyle programme content has been partially prototyped, with the remainder planned to be implemented in the coming period.
The scientific studies progressed well with the Oxford and Aarhus University trials are continuing its main phase of the investigation through the coronavirus pandemic when circumstances allow. The coronavirus crisis has had and will have a significant impact on the overall project’s timeline, and with the largest impact on the scientific studies (involving testing of humans participants). A number of actions has been initiated by the consortium to mitigate the impact as much as possible, e.g. Oxford began testing the AD detection test remotely, so the study could at least proceed, albeit at a slower pace. However, this was not possible for all the studies as in-person testing is a necessity for some trials, including both Aarhus and Nottingham studies.
Five PPI sessions have been successfully conducted so far, focusing on issues relating to cognitive screening and cognitive training technologies, as well as more general topics such as trust in technologies, digital device and motivation.
In parallel, go-to-market strategy and evidence strategy have been further explored and analysed, concrete action plans have been established. In the meantime, comprehensive dissemination activates continue and will intensify as more we gain more tangible production and study results in the coming months. The project is continuously warmly received by patients, clinicians, researchers and industry alike as a both meaningful and important effort.
The consortium has secured a 12-month project extension. Although this is unfortunate, such an extension can and will yield several benefits if utilized properly. Especially this is an opportunity to mature the product/technical solution even more in terms of usability and content and to build a stronger foundation for commercialization, while the delayed scientific studies are completed.
On the ethics front, all consortium partners that handle sensitive personal data have conducted a Data Protection Impact Assessment.
More information about the project on its website below and twitter account:
@addp_eu
Acknowledgement: This project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme – Fast Track to Innovation (FTI), grant agreement 820636.
A combined solution and product, offering a mobile gamified Alzheimer’s disease detection test and the Alzheimer’s disease intervention/risk reduction programme targeting behavioural change is yielding a cutting edge solution that does not exist today in the market.
The final result will be a novel and scientifically tested ‘AD Detect and Prevent’ digital tool that allows for presymptomatic detection of Alzheimer’s disease and enables early interventions to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and possibly the slowing down of disease progression.
The consortium plans to have a market ready version of the ADDP product available by the end of the project, originally by in end 2021, but extended by 6-12 months due to COVID. The objective is to make the ADDP solution widely available globally, with the hope and plan to engage populations at risk in early screening and detection, and to motivate people to begin taking actions to address lifestyle risk factors, supported by the solution.
The final result will be a novel and scientifically tested ‘AD Detect and Prevent’ digital tool that allows for presymptomatic detection of Alzheimer’s disease and enables early interventions to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and possibly the slowing down of disease progression.
The consortium plans to have a market ready version of the ADDP product available by the end of the project, originally by in end 2021, but extended by 6-12 months due to COVID. The objective is to make the ADDP solution widely available globally, with the hope and plan to engage populations at risk in early screening and detection, and to motivate people to begin taking actions to address lifestyle risk factors, supported by the solution.