Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - AD Detect-Prevent (Alzheimer\'s Disease (AD) Detect & Prevent - Presymptomatic AD detection and prevention)

Teaser

It is estimated that approximately 9 million people in Europe are living with dementia. This number is expected to increase to 14 million by 2040. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common conditions leading to dementia as it is the underlying cause in 70% of people with...

Summary

It is estimated that approximately 9 million people in Europe are living with dementia. This number is expected to increase to 14 million by 2040. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common conditions leading to dementia as it is the underlying cause in 70% of people with dementia. Disorders such as dementia are among the leading causes of death and disability and have a great impact on the lives of people with the condition, their relatives and society.

Despite the high prevalence of Alzheimer’s dementia across Europe, detecting this condition before symptoms appear can be extremely challenging and diagnosis often occurs late in the disease process. Very often, when this condition is diagnosed, the progression of the disease has already caused irreversible damage such as impaired memory, thought processes, behaviour and social skills.

To date, there is no treatment that can cure, prevent or slow down the progression of dementia. However, lifestyle factors -aside from age- might increase or reduce the risk of developing dementia. Data released by the Lancet in 2017 indicated that more than a third of dementia cases might theoretically be preventable and there is preliminary evidence that modifying certain risk factors (e.g. such as diabetes, hypertension, social isolation) could contribute to prevention or delay of dementia.

Researchers from the University of Oxford have recently developed a new method that has the potential to identify individuals that are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s dementia, but who have not shown cognitive symptoms as yet. The digital therapeutics company Brain+, located in Copenhagen, has launched digital platforms for adaptive cognitive training and behavioural therapy. The consortium will combine the novel detection method designed by the University of Oxford into a digital platform developed by Brain+ in order to provide an integrated solution.

This innovative tool could enable the detection of subtle cognitive signs, associated with Alzheimer’s disease, before the possible emergence of clear symptoms. It will provide personalized intervention schemes aimed to address risk factors connected to Alzheimer’s dementia.

The consortium aims to effectively address this issue by developing a robust and evidence-based “AD Detect and Prevent” tool that allows for improved detection of Alzheimer’s disease-related cognitive symptoms during the pre-symptomatic phase of the disease, when more effective healthcare interventions could be made, and encourages lifestyle changes that could reduce the addressable risk of dementia.

Work performed

The kick-off meeting of the ‘AD Detect and Prevent’ project was held on 23rd November 2018. On this occasion, all members of the consortium shared their perspectives on the anticipated milestones, reviewed the overall objectives of the project and agreed on the next steps.

Researchers at the University of Oxford and Brain+ tested multiple prototypes to gain insights on which format provided the best user experience while remaining a consistent and accurate tool for detecting presymptomatic cognitive signs of Alzheimer’s.

The work involves close collaboration between academia and industry. Key work and main results include:

Four prototypes of the Alzheimer’s disease detection test have been developed. The prototypes have been pivotal for the consortium’s co-development process of the adapted gamified version of the Alzheimer’s disease detection test, and many refinements and improvements to the original design specifications have been achieved as a consequence. User tests have been carried out with these prototypes and based on the results, team at the University of Oxford and Brain+ decided to focus on further implementing and refining one of these prototypes on the Brain+ digital platform. The implemented Alzheimer’s detection test battery is undergoing initial testing and final adjustments before being tested on a larger scale in the main phases of the studies.

A framework for behavioural change motivation, forming the basis of the content of the Alzheimer’s disease prevention (risk reduction) programmes. These programmes have been renamed to Alzheimer’s disease risk reduction programmes based on research on the ethical aspects of the terms used. The solution has been adapted technically and in terms of User Interface to be able to host, manage, and display the Alzheimer’s disease prevention programs in a tailored user-friendly format better suited for the at-risk populations, many of which are older adults with less IT literacy.

Two Patient Public Involvement workshops have been carried out in Brussels and in the UK with interesting results. A full string of similar user inclusive workshops are planned in the rest of the project. Final preparations for the Nottingham clinical trial scientific trials are underway, and the early stages of the Oxford University and Aarhus University trials has begun, including first tests of the selected Alzheimer’s test in Oxford and PET-scans of participants in Aarhus.

Initial mapping and prioritization of go-to-market strategies and models have been completed. Competitors have been mapped in both digital therapeutics and diagnostics. Brain+ has secured panel speaking spots on two key conferences for obtaining cutting edge industry insights, namely DTxEurope, and IMI stakeholder forum (Pharma-industry forum) on digital prevention and therapeutics.

The draft exploitation and communications plan have been updated. The project\'s website and social media accounts have been launched/opened and a series of follow-up dissemination and communication activities are underway.

Read more information about the project at its website here:
https://www.addp.eu

Acknowledgement: This project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme – Fast Track to Innovation (FTI), grant agreement 820636.

The project coordinator, Brain+’s website and social media accounts:
Website: http://www.brain-plus.com/

Final results

The co-development process for a mobile gamified Alzheimer’s disease detection test and the Alzheimer’s disease intervention/risk reduction programs targeting behavioural change is yielding a cutting edge solution that does not exist today in the market.

As such, the final result will be a novel and scientifically tested ‘AD Detect and Prevent’ digital tool that allows for presymptomatic detection of Alzheimer’s and enables early interventions to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.

The consortium plans to have a market ready version of this solution by the end of the project in 2020. The solution will over time be made widely available to globally, with the hope and plan to engage populations at risk in early screening and detection and to motivate people to begin taking action to address life style risk factors, supported by the solution.

Website & more info

More info: http://addp.eu.