14 DAY TRIAL // Alzheimer's disease is one of the most devastating affections that hasn't been cured yet. It starts slowly, with patients reporting losing short-term memory, and as the disease advances, symptoms can include speaking problems, disorientation, loss of motivation, and behavioral issues.
The average life expectancy following diagnosis is three to nine years, but patients are often forced to live their last years without their loved ones because of the memory loss.
In order to offer Alzheimer's patients a higher quality life, Samsung Electronics Tunisia has released a new Android application that allows them to remember events on a daily basis, which should slow down the progression of the disease.
“We wanted to make life easier for Alzheimer’s patients as well as their caretakers, but we were initially unsure of how to go about doing this,” said Azer, a marketing manager for mobile products at SETN.
“While Alzheimer’s may be incurable, recent studies have shown that mental stimulation in the form of regular reminders of past events could potentially slow down the progression of the disease. This is where we saw an opportunity.”
The application should greatly improve the patient's memory
Dubbed Backup Memory, the application works like a memory stimulator for those who were diagnosed with early signs of Alzheimer's disease.
The first thing the application does is allow patients to become aware of their immediate surroundings by identifying nearby family members and friends.
In addition, Backup Memory is capable of reminding patients about their relationship with each person and memories that they have shared in the past using photos and videos.
According to Dr. Meriam Labidi, a geriatrician and a member of the Tunisian Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer's patients who tried out the Backup Memory application have been able to hold onto their memory for a little longer.
Even though this application is not necessarily a technological breakthrough, it's still a good use of existing technology and will certainly help Alzheimer's patients to some extent.
You can now download Backup Memory for Android for free via Google Play Store. The application is fully compatible with all devices powered by Android 4.0 and up.
