Supporting Autobiographical Memory in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease Using Smart Phones

Abstract

An estimated 5.1 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease (AD). A symptom of AD is the gradual loss of autobiographical memory. Support services have been shown to slow such loss, thereby improving the quality of life of patients and their caregivers. In this case study, a subject in Stage 4 of AD on the Functional Assessment Staging (FAST) scale carried a smart phone with a lanyard for 4 weeks. The smart phone was programmed to take pictures at 5-minute intervals for 12 hours during the day. The pictures were collected, combined in a video slide show, saved to a DVD, and mailed to the subject on a weekly basis. The subject and his caregiver had to view the DVD. In order to evaluate the subject's memory before and after viewing the DVD, a test concerning the most important events of the week was developed. The subject and his caregiver had to answer a satisfaction questionnaire as well. The results of this case study confirmed that the DVD helped the subject recall recent events significantly better and that carrying the smart phone was not considered intrusive to daily routines. This manuscript illustrates how smart phone technology can assist in exercising autobiographical memory.

Older adults and mobile phones for health: A review

“…De Leo et al requested that a single older adult with Alzheimer’s disease wear a smartphone that was programmed to take photos every 5 minutes to assess satisfaction and recent events memory recall before and after completing the intervention (Level of evidence: 4) [20]. Once completed, a slideshow was generated, which was shown to improve the recall of events during the day significantly.…”

Diagnostic Inaccuracy of Smartphone Applications for Melanoma Detection

“…5 Two-thirds of physicians use smart phone applications in their practice. 6 Some of these applications have been evaluated in the peer-reviewed literature including instruments used to aid autobiographical memory in Alzheimer’s patients, 7 to assist in the delivery of cardiac life support, 8 and in diabetes management. 9 However, this type of evaluation is not common for applications marketed directly to consumers.…”

Autobiographical memory decline in Alzheimer’s disease, a theoretical and clinical overview

“…In this area of research, a study has used SenseCam to promote autobiographical memory in AD (De Leo et al, 2011). SenceCam is a small wearable device that includes a digital camera and multiple sensors that detect changes in motion, light levels, and ambient temperature.…”

“…SenceCam can record up to 3000 images per day, as well as data from all sensors. In the study by De Leo et al (2011), SenseCam was used to record the daily lives of six patients with mild to moderate AD. Every two days for two weeks participants had to retrieve recent memories, and recall was followed by a structured review of the SenseCam images.…”