A New Way to Help Those with Alzheimer’s Recall Memories

An interesting study out of the University of Toronto, and reported by The Medical News Today, introduces a smartphone app for people with memory impairments that may help reinforce their memories of life events. Researchers explain the HippoCamera app imitates the function of the hippocampus by consolidating a person’s memories. The hippocampus is believed to repeatedly replay memories to the rest of the brain at a high speed to help stabilize them for long-term recall. 

Researchers explain the app works by recording everyday events in the person’s life and repeatedly playing them back to the person. They say the broader point of helping those with Alzheimer’s remember the events the HippoCamera recorded may be that remembering those things might result in a renewed ability to recall and share experiences. The lead study author, Dr. Chris Martin, says, “If you can better recall a specific moment from your recent past, you will have a stronger mental bridge between your present and past self.”

The study found people who used the app for two weeks experienced a 56% increase in their ability to recall the details of events recorded with the HippoCamera. People who used it for 70 consecutive days saw an 84% increase. Prof. Morgan D. Barense, senior investigator of the study and a cognitive neuropsychologist, says people also reported back the emotions they felt at the time and the people who were there. She adds their findings could encourage people to get into the habit of focusing on their memories and realizing there are simple things we can do to preserve memories.  

MorningStar at San Tomas takes a holistic approach to memory care starting with developing a personalized service plan to address needs and provide a gentle flow of daily activities to calm or stimulate. Visit our website for more information and to talk to our team about our all-inclusive memory care facility. We opened to residents in spring and are now leasing. Please ask about our early depositor incentives.  

Source: medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-a-smartphone-app-may-help-boost-memory-recall#Why-strong-memories-are-important