Dementia Australia today launched a free mobile app, BrainTrack, to help people monitor and better understand changes in their cognition over time.
BrainTrack was officially launched today by the Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care in a Meet the Ministers Webinar hosted by Dementia Australia.
When patients they have concerns, they can then share the results with their GP and use it as a conversation starter to support an earlier dementia diagnosis.
According to Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe AM, BrainTrack helps people deal with common cognitive issues by providing brain health information through brain health-themed games that have been adapted from validated cognitive testing.
“Users are prompted to log-in monthly to play the games and within the app can easily generate a pdf report of the results that can be emailed to their GP.”
“While not intended to replace a formal cognitive assessment, BrainTrack supports the early identification of cognitive changes over time that may warrant further testing.” says Ms McCabe.
If people are encouraged to speak to their physician as soon as they have concerns, it may result in a earlier diagnosis of dementia. This allows people living with dementia, their relatives, and caregivers to better comprehend dementia and manage their condition in a way that is suitable to them.
“Brain health exploration is open to everyone via BrainTrack, and I urge treating healthcare professionals and GPs to encourage their patients who are concerned about their cognition to participate as well.”
“With up to half a million Australians living with dementia – which is projected to increase to 1.1 million people by 2058 – improving early diagnosis must be a priority.” Ms McCabe said.
According to Dementia Australia Honorary Medical Advisor Associate Professor Michael Woodward AM, Director and Clinical Head of Aged Care Research and Director, Memory Clinic for Austin Health, the right support at the right time can help people with dementia maintain their independence and functional capacity for as long as possible.
“Health and allied health professionals play an important role in helping people living with dementia to live well for longer.”
“By assessing physical and cognitive issues they can provide interventions to support the maintenance of current strengths and capacities, improve skill acquisition and promote recovery, enablement and rehabilitation.
“The more GPs and healthcare professionals know and understand about dementia and how Dementia Australia’s support and programs, including post-diagnostic services, can wrap around their patient, the better the system and health care experience will be for all.” says Professor Michael Woodward
Isabelle Burke cared for her mother, whose diagnosis experience stretched out over many years, impacting on her mother Christine’s quality of life and that of her brother and sister.
“Mum was misdiagnosed for many years and later prescribed antipsychotics which added to the issues,” says Ms Burke
“If we had known it was dementia, we would’ve been able to get the right support earlier for our Mum and spend her final years cherishing our time with her creating memories together. Instead by the time she was diagnosed she required full-time care and sadly, died aged just 59 in 2019.”
Andree Ernst is a Dementia Advocate and has experienced gradual cognitive decline since being diagnosed with grand mal epilepsy. Andree has already downloaded the app and started on its tasks.
“I plan to continue to check-in with BrainTrack and show the results to my GP to help demonstrate my experience with memory problems that I currently struggle to monitor for myself,” says Ms Ernst
The project was funded by the Australian Government and created in partnership with Deakin University’s Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute.
It was also developed in collaboration with BrainTrack was awarded a research grant by the Medical Research Future Fund – Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care initiative to evaluate its impact on brain health knowledge and help-seeking behaviour.
Professor Alison Hutchinson, School of Nursing and Midwifery and Director of the Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research in the Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University says to be able to explore delaying decline, dementia needs to be diagnosed early.
“However, up to 76 per cent of Australians diagnosed with dementia have already advanced beyond the early stage by the time of their diagnosis.”
“If we find using BrainTrack increases awareness of brain health and prompts individuals to seek help for cognitive concerns then many vulnerable Australians may be supported earlier.
“There is also an opportunity offered on downloading BrainTrack to consider volunteering to contribute to research about the app and its impact.” say Prof Hutchinson
