New app helps doctors diagnose dementia

A new app promises to help doctors dramatically bring down the time needed to test for dementia, from three years to just 10 minutes.

Tech site Mashable said Cantab, from Cambridge Cognition, runs on Apple’s iPad and was designed to help early diagnoses of dementia.

“The technology, based on testing developed at the University of Cambridge, is designed to be easy for patients to use,” it said.

It added Cantab is available in 20 languages, and has an option to encrypt test results for printing or including in a patient’s file.

But it also noted the app is not for everyone yet. Cambridge Cognition is distributing the app only to registered healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom.

Currently, 10 practices in the UK use the app, Mashable said.

Also, Mashable said Cambridge Cognition warned Cantab is meant only as an aid to preliminary diagnosis, and is not a comprehensive recommendation.

“The test tracks scores for both mood and functional impairment, which give doctors a better idea of how to proceed with screening and treatment,” it said.

Dementia is  a chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury and marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and impaired reasoning.

Source GMA News