Dementia Australia has launched a free mobile app, BrainTrack, to help people monitor and better understand suspected changes in their cognition.
The app helps individuals explore cognitive concerns and provides brain health information through fun, travel-themed games. If concerns are substantiated, users can then share the results with their GP.
Describing how the app works, Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe says users are prompted to log in monthly to play games. The app can generate a pdf report of the results that can be emailed to a GP.
“While not intended to replace a formal cognitive assessment, BrainTrack supports the early identification of cognitive changes over time that may warrant further testing,” she says.
Dementia Australia says that encouraging people to talk to their GP as soon as they have concerns can lead to an earlier diagnosis and empower people to better understand dementia and manage their diagnosis.
Ms McCabe says: “I encourage everyone interested in exploring more about their brain health to download BrainTrack and for GPs and other treating healthcare professionals to encourage their patients who have concerns about their cognition to do so too.
“With up to half a million Australians living with dementia – which is projected to increase to 1.1 million people by 2058 – improving early diagnosis must be a priority.”
BrainTrack was developed with the Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute and Deakin University and funded by the Australian government.
It’s available for download for free through the Apple App Store or Google Play. For more information, visit dementia.org.au/braintrack-app or call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.
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