The Development of a Pilot App Targeting Short-Term and Prospective Memory in People Diagnosed with Dementia

Abstract

Background: According to the World Health Organization, people suffering from dementia exhibit a serious decline in various cognitive domains and especially in memory. Aims: This study aims to create a pilot computer app to enhance short-term memory and prospective memory in individuals with dementia using errorless learning based on their individualized needs. Methods: Fifteen dementia patients and matched controls, matched for age, sex, and education, were selected. Their daily routines were analyzed, and cognitive abilities were assessed using the MoCA test. Considering the participants’ illness severity and daily needs, the pilot app was designed to aid in remembering daily tasks (taking medication and meals), object locations, and familiar faces and names. Results: An improvement in patients’ short-term and prospective memory throughout the training sessions, but not in overall cognitive functioning was observed. A statistically significant difference between patients and healthy controls was indicated in their ability to retain information relevant to them in their short-term memory, or to remember to act in the future following schedules organized at present (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This app appears beneficial for training dementia patients and healthy individuals in addressing memory challenges. Recommendation: While the pilot app showed promise, further research with larger samples is recommended.