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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
With the involvement of around 30 specialist practices across Germany, DZNE will investigate whether dedicated memory tests on smartphones can help to detect mild cognitive impairment (MCI) at an early stage. Such symptoms can indicate an increased risk of dementia. To this end, an app developed by the Magdeburg start-up “neotiv” will be used as a digital tool. The test results recorded by the app are intended to assist doctor’s in their diagnosis. “Lilly Deutschland GmbH” is another project partner: the pharmaceutical company is funding the health care study with 1.3 million euros.
The term “mild cognitive impairment” covers a wide range of cognitive problems such as memory and concentration difficulties. Such symptoms can be a precursor to dementia. “People with MCI have measurable cognitive deficits but are not significantly impaired in their daily lives,” explains Prof. Stefan Teipel, a dementia researcher at DZNE’s Rostock/Greifswald site. “It is becoming increasingly relevant to detect MCI in time. This is because people with MCI have an increased risk of developing dementia and new drugs are emerging that can delay progression, at least in the case of underlying Alzheimer’s disease, if treatment is started early. However, studies show that less than ten percent of MCI cases are detected in primary care. There is therefore a need to improve early diagnosis.”
Test at home – diagnosis in the doctor’s office
The current health care study investigates whether digital testing on a mobile device may help resident specialists to detect MCI. “There are approved procedures for diagnosing MCI. However, these procedures are often not sufficiently established in outpatient care, so that additional digital testing can be helpful. Especially since this can be done easily and autonomously at home. In our study, we are looking into this approach using a special app that is prescribed by a doctor,” says Teipel. This app runs on smartphones and tablets and asks the user to take an interactive memory test once a week. In the current research project, this happens over a period of three months, with each test taking about 20 minutes. “The app generates a protocol of the test results, which supports the doctor in his or her assessment. The app itself does not make a diagnosis,” says Teipel.
Benefit in specialist care
The app, called “neotivCare”, is a medical device developed by the Magdeburg-based start-up “neotiv” on the grounds of many years of research by DZNE. “Previous studies have already shown that this app can detect memory problems. In our case, it is now about its use in routine care. We want to assess the benefits of this type of testing in a real-life setting. Specifically, whether it can help to identify and resolve suspected cases of MCI more rapidly,” says Prof Emrah Düzel, a dementia researcher at DZNE’s Magdeburg site and co-developer of the app. The project is supported by Lilly Deutschland GmbH with a funding amount of 1.3 million euros over two years. The US company has been working on diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for people with Alzheimer's disease for more than 35 years.
Multi-stage procedure
The research team led by Stefan Teipel aims to include around 300 individuals with cognitive complaints in the study within just under two years. In the participating practices, these persons will first be tested using conventional methods and their cognitive situation will be assessed by the responsible physician. This is followed by testing with the app. “If MCI is suspected, a patient is generally referred to a memory outpatient clinic for a final diagnosis. This is the standard procedure in routine care. Our aim is to find out whether digitally supported testing at home can usefully support this process,” explains Teipel. “In particular, the question is whether or not the results of digitally supported testing at home change the initial diagnosis and thus the need for a referral. The attending doctors will decide about this, based on their own experience and expertise. Furthermore, it is also important to understand the barriers that doctors and patients perceive in using digital technologies.” In the next step, all study subjects will be examined in more detail at a DZNE study center or at an outpatient clinic from the German Network of Memory Clinics. The resulting diagnosis will serve as a benchmark. “The various findings will tell us how well digitally supported testing at home can help to identify MCI correctly and at an early stage – and where there are obstacles to their use in routine care. We should have the study results in 2027,” says Teipel.
Transparency note: Emrah Düzel, a dementia researcher at DZNE, is also co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of “neotiv”.
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About Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, DZNE (German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases): DZNE is one of the world’s leading research centers for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS, which are associated with dementia, movement disorders and other serious health impairments. These diseases place an enormous burden on patients and their families, but also on society and the economy of healthcare. DZNE contributes significantly to the development and translation into practice of novel strategies for prevention, diagnosis, care and treatment. DZNE comprises ten sites across Germany and collaborates with universities, university hospitals, research centers and other institutions in Germany and throughout the world. DZNE is state-funded and a member of the Helmholtz Association and of the German Centers for Health Research. https://www.dzne.de/en
About neotiv: neotiv GmbH was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Magdeburg. The digital health company is a spin-off of OVGU Magdeburg in close cooperation with the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE). The company's goal is to translate the latest findings from neuroscience into products used in science and healthcare. The focus is on mobile apps for smartphones and tablets. The medical device neotivCare assists patients in the medical assessment of perceived memory problems to identify possible conditions such as Alzheimer's disease early. https://www.neotiv-care.com
About Lilly: Lilly is a medicine company turning science into healing to make life better for people around the world. We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help tens of millions of people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health challenges: redefining diabetes care; treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects; advancing the fight against Alzheimer's disease; providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders; and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable. To learn more, visit https://www.Lilly.com and https://www.Lilly.com/news, or follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/elilillyandco/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/elilillyco/) and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/eli-lilly-and-company). P-LLY
https://www.dzne.de/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/presse/erhoehtes-risiko-fuer-de... German version
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