Mild Cognitive Impairment: Can Decline to Dementia be Monitored and Delayed by Computer-Based Games?

Over the last decade, there has been a growing literature on “brain plasticity” and the role of computer based games for brain health improvement. Most of the focus has been on healthy older adults. While there has been pharmacologic treatment available for dementia for decades, there is no accepted standard treatment for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). This project aims to engage individuals with MCI in computer-based games that are programmed to 1) allow remote monitoring of improvement and/or decline and 2) strengthen cognitive function through improvement in game performance. The ultimate goal is improved patient outcomes, either by delaying decline to dementia, or by detecting decline earlier to allow timely treatment initiation. This study will also pilot the pre- and post- intervention measurements of a subset of participants using electroencephalography (EEG). Project partners are excited to contribute to this research which will, respectively, further test their products with individuals suffering from MCI and contribute to better serving people with cognitive impairment.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dr. Rafik Goubran

Student:

Bruce Wallace, Anissa Shaddy & TBD

Partner:

Chartwell Retirement Residences

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

Carleton University