The first Alzheimer’s disease (AD) Detect and Prevent webinar entitled “Enhancing the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease through digital technologies” was held on 23 June 2020. This online event brought together leading experts on AD and dementia to exchange views on the challenges and opportunities provided by digital health solutions in enhancing the early detection of AD.
Approximately 80 participants, representing scientific societies, patient groups, academics and health stakeholders, joined the webinar.
The webinar started with a powerful testimony by Helen Rochford-Brennan, Chair of the European Working Group of People with Dementia (EWGPWD), in which she shared how AD has impacted her life and the lives of her family and loved ones. She also highlighted the importance of creating a culture in which people living with AD have a voice and are included in driving action on the illness. The testimony by Dr Rochford-Brennan was followed by three presentations by key opinion leaders: Prof. Masud Husain, Prof. Martin Rossor and Prof. Eric Salmon. Throughout their presentations, these experts shared their perspectives on the opportunities provided by digital technologies whilst also addressing some of the pitfalls associated with these emerging solutions.
An update on the development of the AD Detect and Prevent tool was presented near the end of the webinar by Prof. Masud Husain and Ulrik Ditlev Eriksen. As part of this presentation, they introduced the gamified “Starry Night” tablet task that uses stellar constellations to assess short-term memory. Moreover, Ulrik Eriksen explained the wider objectives of the project, including those related to risk detection and risk reduction, as well as the key challenges associated with early engagement, screening and lifestyle intervention that the digital health tool aims to address.
The full webinar can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymjgm67bwAc
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