Brain health app
Funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has been announced for developing a brain health app. Worth £1.9 million, the funding will enable work to begin on the REACTIVE app, which will monitor brain health in older adults through regular cognitive tests while also providing a brain training programme for them. The aim is identify mild cognitive impairment in people who are not currently seen by a GP or memory clinic and ensure that they get the help they need. Anne Corbett, study lead at the University of Exeter, said: “We know that 99 per cent of people with early signs of problems with their memory and brain health are not seen by a doctor. Yet these are the people who will benefit the most from early assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Computerised tests of brain health are far more sensitive and accurate than traditional paper-and-pencil tests and using an app means we can reach large numbers of people in an affordable way.”