The Cognitive Effects of Wearable Cameras in Mild Alzheimer Disease – An Experimental Study

Title:The Cognitive Effects of Wearable Cameras in Mild Alzheimer Disease – An Experimental Study

Volume: 14 Issue: 12

Author(s): Ana Rita Silva*, Maria Salome Pinho , Luis Macedo and Christopher J.A. Moulin

Affiliation:

• Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra, CINEICC – Cognitive and Behavioural Center for Research and Intervention, Colegio Novo Street, s/n, 3001-802 Coimbra,Portugal

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, memory, cognitive training, wearable cameras, non-pharmacological interventions, Sense- Cam.

Abstract: Background: Wearable cameras are a new type of intervention aimed at stimulating memory in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Such passive external memory aids have started to be considered as alternatives to both more active external aids (such as writing in diaries, journals, and timetables) and to internal cognitive strategies (such as spaced retrieval, errorless learning).

Objective: In order to understand the benefits of these innovative devices for memory compensation, the present experiment examined the effectiveness of two memory training strategies: SenseCam, a wearable camera, a passive external memory aid and a memory training programme (MEMO+) created from tasks known to stimulate memory, in comparison with a control condition, a personal written diary.

Method: Fifty-one patients with mild AD were randomly assigned to one of these three groups. Training lasted for six consecutive weeks, two sessions a week, one hour each, for all groups. Patients underwent a neuropsychological assessment at baseline, after treatment and at follow up (six months later).

Results: Groups showed non-significant differences at baseline. After treatment and at follow up, the SenseCam group had a superior autobiographical memory (AM) performance, compared to the Memo+ and Diary groups. The SenseCam and the Memo+ groups both showed improved episodic and semantic memory, and somewhat improved executive function.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that passive memory training with SenseCam is a promising alternative to traditional memory training programs to help AD patients with autobiographical memory performance.

Cite this article as:

Silva Rita Ana*, Pinho Salome Maria , Macedo Luis and Moulin J.A. Christopher, The Cognitive Effects of Wearable Cameras in Mild Alzheimer Disease – An Experimental Study, Current Alzheimer Research 2017; 14 (12) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1567205014666170531083015