In mild cognitive impairment (MCI), affected individuals already show measurable limitations in memory or other cognitive abilities, but are still largely independent in daily life. Since medications have only limited effectiveness so far, non-pharmacological approaches are increasingly coming into focus of research. Virtual reality (VR) is one of them. A research team from Hunan...
The first generation of digital technology users is now reaching an age where the risk of dementia increases. But how has long-term technology use affected their cognitive abilities? Has it been a training for the brain, or has it rather harmed it? Researchers from the USA (Texas)...
A dementia illness does not only affect cognitive performance or the ability to manage daily life. It can also impact one's own identity, which is characterized by changes in professional, familial, and social roles. These personality changes often harbor anxieties and uncertainties about the...
Immer mehr Menschen weltweit erkranken an Demenz. Doch bis heute gibt es keine wirksamen Therapien, die die Erkrankung heilen können. Um so wichtiger ist deshalb Demenzprävention, die das Augenmerk auf die sogenannten veränderbaren Demenz-Risikofaktoren wie zum Beispiel körperliche und geistige Inaktivität, ungesunde Ernährung und Depressionen oder Angstzustände lenkt. Kann ein vollständig online durchgeführtes …
What solutions are there for elderly people in need of care whose adult only children would gladly care for them, but live far away or even abroad? They want to take responsibility, but often cannot provide direct care. Smart home technologies and assistance robots seem to offer a solution at first glance: they promise safety, health monitoring...
Digital health applications (DiGA) are used to detect, monitor, treat, or alleviate the symptoms of diseases. However, in Germany, only those DiGAs that have been approved by the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) are reimbursed by statutory health insurance funds. Safety and data protection requirements are among the first aspects to be examined. Afterward…
Smartphone applications are increasingly supplementing traditional healthcare: they can support patients in the prevention, treatment, or healing of diseases and also help people with dementia. For many manufacturers of so-called digital health applications (DiGA), the year 2019 represented a turning point: Germany was the first country in the world to...
Restlessness, aggression, or hallucinations – so-called behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) occur in around 90 percent of those affected. This represents a significant burden for both people with dementia and their caregivers and relatives. But to what extent can digital aids...
Menschen mit kognitiven Beeinträchtigungen fällt es häufig schwer, sich räumlich zu orientieren und problemlos von A nach B zu gelangen. Dabei sind diese oft mit einer Demenz verbundenen kognitiven Veränderungen entscheidend, um die Erkrankung frühzeitig zu erkennen und behandeln zu können. Wie sich mit Hilfe von speziellen Smartphone-Daten erste Anzeichen für ein erhöhtes …
Neuropsychiatric disorders, such as severe depression and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), frequently manifest cognitive symptoms – for example, difficulty concentrating and problems planning or organizing daily activities. As a result, those affected experience increased distress and a reduced quality of life. Furthermore, the symptoms can...
