Neurotrack Digital Therapeutics Study Finds Certain Lifestyle Changes Can Improve Cognitive Function in Older Adults At Risk for Dementia
Company Grows Executive Team and Appoints Neil Rothstein, Formerly of 23AndMe and Netflix, as Chief Commercial Officer to Oversee Rollout of Company's Digital Cognitive Health Platform
Nov 29, 2018, 09:00 ET
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Nov. 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Neurotrack, an innovative digital health company on a mission to transform the assessment and prevention of memory loss and related diseases like Alzheimer's, today announced the results of a preliminary study of its forthcoming digital therapeutic program. Designed to slow and/or prevent memory loss among at risk adults, initial findings show improved cognitive function among participants after one year of adopting certain lifestyle behaviors.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, there are an estimated 50 million people worldwide living with dementia today - a number that will almost double every 20 years, reaching 75 million in 2030 and 131.5 million in 2050. While there is at present no cure, research suggests the progression of memory loss due to Alzheimer's and other dementias can be slowed and perhaps prevented altogether.
"Alzheimer's is one of the biggest health crises in the world, and one of the least understood. Just as there have been no easily accessible, reliable diagnostics to determine disease risk in early stages, there have been no cures developed to treat the disease once it has been identified," said Neurotrack co-founder and CEO Elli Kaplan.
From November 2016 to March 2017, Neurotrack enrolled 85 older adults with subjective cognitive decline* in its digital therapeutic program.** Over the course of the year, participants were guided by health coaches through a fully digital, highly personalized program that addressed key lifestyle areas that growing evidence suggests can reduce one's dementia risk. These include improved nutrition and sleep habits, an increase in physical and cognitive activity, and lower stress levels.
After 12 months, participants showed a significant improvement in cognitive function scores, as assessed by the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Total RBANS Index score increased an average of 6%, with specific changes observed in immediate memory, language, and delayed memory. Participants also showed significant decreases in both anxiety and depression levels, both direct risk factors for cognitive decline, with levels dropping from "mild" to "little or none." Additional findings include:
- Self-reported outcomes/satisfaction with the program was high. The majority of study participants reported the program improved their diet and eating habits, physical activity, cognitive ability, sleep habits, and stress levels.
- Of the participants who completed a survey at the end of the program:
- 93% reported the program impacted their daily food decisions
- 86% reported the program was helpful for improving cognitive ability
- 80% reported the program helped improve physical activity levels
- 75% reported the program improved their stress levels
- 69% reported the program helped improve sleep habits
"These initial study results show promise that through early intervention and a personalized program, Alzheimer's risk can be reduced," said Kaplan. "We've developed Neurotrack's digital platform to be highly personalized and accessible, so that people can access tools to take control of their long term brain health in order to slow or prevent the onset of cognitive decline."
Designed to be coupled with the company's Imprint Memory Assessment, which is supported by 30 years of neuroscience research, the first ever scientifically-backed, fully integrated behavioral platform is capable of digitally assessing risk of cognitive decline, monitoring cognition longitudinally, and delivering an intervention to preserve cognitive health. Additionally, through Neurotrack's platform, participants will be able to access tools to take steps to reduce their risk of decline.
Neurotrack looks to change the way the world's aging populations manage the onset and management of memory loss and Alzheimer's related dementia. Just last week, the company announced a partnership with Dai-ichi Life, the No.2 life insurance company in Japan. Serving one of the world's largest aging populations, Dai-ichi will start selling a dementia insurance product in late December that will make Neurotrack's 5-minute Imprint Memory Assessment available through an app that could reach its 13 million customers.
To oversee the rollout of Neurotrack's Digital Cognitive Health Platform, Neurotrack has hired Neil Rothstein as Chief Commercial Officer. Neil previously spent four years as the VP of Marketing and Consumer Care for 23andMe, the leading consumer genetics and research company. Prior to 23andMe, Neil spent 11 years at Netflix, leading the company's online marketing.
"Neurotrack is on the cutting edge of developing easy, accessible tools to help people take action on their memory health," said Rothstein. "I am eager to leverage my deep experience with new, groundbreaking products to help get Neurotrack's digital therapeutic program into the hands of anyone who is concerned about his or her memory health."
The company plans to follow up this study with a randomized controlled trial to further investigate the effectiveness of the program. It will also continue offer the platform through select partners and then to anyone with an internet-connected device and webcam later in 2019.
*Subjective cognitive decline is a personal feeling of memory attenuation that is present in the absence of any organic or identifiable cognitive condition; it has scientific validity as a predictor of dementia.
** Methodology: The study, conducted by Evidation Health, enrolled individuals 60-75 years old who expressed that they were experiencing cognitive decline and were worried about their memory. For more information visit https://aging.jmir.org/2018/2/e12031/.
About Neurotrack
Neurotrack is building the digital memory health platform of the future, giving people direct access to digital tools and technology to assess, preserve, and strengthen their memory health. Based on 30 years of scientific research, Neurotrack's comprehensive platform helps people assess their memory through the company's proprietary ImprintTM cognitive assessment, and manage memory loss and cognitive decline with the help of Neurotrack's highly personalized digital therapeutic. Neurotrack was co-founded by CEO Elli Kaplan, and leading neuroscientists and researchers Stuart Zola, PhD, Elizabeth Buffalo, PhD, and Cecelia Manzanares. The company is based in Redwood City, CA. For more information visit www.neurotrack.com.
SOURCE Neurotrack