Title:Digital Intervention for the Management of Alzheimer’s Disease
Volume: 19
Issue: 14
Author(s): Namish Manchanda, Akanksha Aggarwal, Sonal Setya*Sushama Talegaonkar*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, SGT College
of Pharmacy, SGT University, Gurugram, Haryana, 122505, India
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research University, Govt. of NCT of Delhi,
New Delhi, 110017, India
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, reminiscence therapy, mobile apps, internet of things, digital health.
Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive, multifactorial, chronic, neurodegenerative disease
with high prevalence and limited therapeutic options, making it a global health crisis. Being the
most common cause of dementia, AD erodes the cognitive, functional, and social abilities of the individual
and causes escalating medical and psychosocial needs. As yet, this disorder has no cure and
current treatment options are palliative in nature. There is an urgent need for novel therapy to address
this pressing challenge. Digital therapeutics (Dtx) is one such novel therapy that is gaining popularity
globally. Dtx provides evidence based therapeutic interventions driven by internet and software, employing
tools such as mobile devices, computers, videogames, apps, sensors, virtual reality aiding in
the prevention, management, and treatment of ailments like neurological abnormalities and chronic
diseases. Dtx acts as a supportive tool for the optimization of patient care, individualized treatment and
improved health outcomes. Dtx uses visual, sound and other non-invasive approaches for instanceconsistent
therapy, reminiscence therapy, computerised cognitive training, semantic and phonological
assistance devices, wearables and computer-assisted rehabilitation environment to find applications in
Alzheimer's disease for improving memory, cognition, functional abilities and managing motor symptom.
A few of the Dtx-based tools employed in AD include "Memory Matters", "AlzSense", "Alzheimer
Assistant", "smart robotic dog", "Immersive virtual reality (iVR)" and the most current gamma
stimulation. The purpose of this review article is to summarize the current trends in digital health in
AD and explore the benefits, challenges, and impediments of using Dtx as an adjunctive therapy for
the management of AD.