Dementia prevention with memodio – app helps fend off memory loss

According to current estimates, 1.8 million people in Germany live with dementia. Globally, the disease affects 55 million persons. The neurodegenerative disease is a chronic condition. Once the decline in brain function has started, it is difficult to stop it, thus underscoring the importance of prevention. This is where memodio comes into play. The app is designed to help people with cognitive training and prevent dementia.

In this interview, two of the company’s founders tell us how this concept works and explain why this process requires more than just memory training.

Mr. Bicu, what led to the idea for the app?

Felix Bicu: As doctors, we have treated an increasing number of people with dementia and know the needs of patients and the challenges of dementia care. There have been several cases of dementia in my own family, making me appreciate how devastating this disease can be. Doron has been involved in dementia research and has also written an academic book on the subject. When we met our co-founder and software developer Paul, it became clear that we had to create a digital product for people with incipient cognitive impairment.

Dr. Stein, how can memodio support dementia prevention?

Dr. Doron Stein: Designed for people in the early stages of cognitive decline, memodio is a health app that’s based on the results of the latest dementia prevention studies. The app offers a treatment program over the course of several months that is personalized to the needs of the individual patient. The treatment plan combines brain training, physical exercises, a diet that promotes brain health, the optimization of risk factors and other content to make it easier for those affected to cope with everyday life. The content is specifically tailored to address the individual health status and progress of the user, continuously adapts to changes and evolves over the course of the treatment program.

Why is it so important to address dementia prevention on several levels and to not just concentrate on cognitive exercises?

Felix Bicu: The latest studies have clearly shown that only the combination of multiple treatment elements has a real impact on preventing the development of dementia. This makes sense as there are also different dementia risk factors, which include hearing loss, excess weight, and type 2 diabetes. That means if we engage in lots of brain training but ignore all other risk factors, any of the latter can trigger changes in the brain that can cause forgetfulness and in due course dementia.

The app is available for download in the Google Play Store and the Apple Store. What comes next for your app?

Dr. Stein: The app has been certified as a medical device, which was an important milestone for us as this means it is now available as a safe and effective product. Our next step focuses on user acquisition. Many who are affected by this condition aren’t even aware that memodio is available and there to help. That needs to change. It is also key that statutory health insurance funds promptly reimburse the cost of the app. We are currently negotiating selective contracts with several (German) health insurance companies as a result. We are also in the process of planning several studies to collect yet more data pertaining to the application of memodio by our users.

Are apps like memodio the future of healthcare?

Bicu: Mobile health apps have several advantages that conventional diagnosis or treatment methods cannot offer: They are available anytime and anywhere, require less staff, lower costs, and can transmit data easily and automatically.

Dr. Stein: Mobile apps are obviously not a panacea or miracle cure. However, they fulfill an important function: they can complement and even replace conventional treatment – especially for chronic diseases – with regular therapy sessions that patients conduct on their own at home. In our specific case, there is no other approved treatment for people with mild cognitive impairment - the precursor to dementia. That makes the memodio app the only form of treatment that is specifically approved to target the preliminary (early) stages of dementia. This is a milestone as it pertains to cognitive impairment treatment. What we would like to see in the future is for health apps to be recognized and seen for the promise they hold for innovative healthcare. Unlocking their full potential will be the key mission for the coming years.