Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden will receive 10 million SEK to develop new technologies that will increase the quality of life for elderly people with mild dementia. The technology, IT support via e-readers, will also facilitate for the relatives.
It is from Horizon 2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, that the project Medical Intelligence for Assistive Management Interface - Mild Dementia received the funds. The project will last for four years.
In the project, new specially adapted technology that can help elderly people suffering from mild dementia will be developed. This may involve, for example reminders so they do not forget to take their medication or an appointment. In addition to raising the quality of life for these elderly people the new technologies will make it easier for relatives and healthcare professionals.
Today, up to 9 percent of the population over 60 years suffer from mild dementia, so there are a great number of people who will have use of the new technology.
The first step is to develop a customized technology that is user friendly. Then the technology will be tested on 2,000 people in Europe. The new technology is expected to be ready for operation in 2020.
The work will be conducted within the research environments sustainable active aging and health and technology at BTH. Responsible for the project is Johan Berglund, professor of public health sciences. The senior project SNAC-Blekinge, which enabled this EU project, has been underway at BTH since 2000.
- With this technology, we hope to support and develop nursing care, increase the elderly persons and their family members' quality of life while also reducing health care costs, says Professor Johan Berglund.
Single-dose genetic medicine halts the progression of ALS and frontotemporal dementia in mice