Dementia app to be showcased in the House of Commons

An innovative team from Derriford Hospital in Plymouth will be showcasing a mobile app, designed to help clinicians assess patients with possible dementia, in the House of Commons today (Thursday 5 September).

Dr Rupert Noad, Consultant Neuropsychologist from Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust and Dr Craig Newman, Research Clinical Psychologist from the Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry will present their revolutionary ACEmobile computerised Dementia Assessment tool as part of an exhibition in London.

MPs will have the opportunity to try out the ACEmobile assessment tool for dementia and see for themselves how safe, secure, reliable and easy to administer it is. Developed by clinicians for clinicians, it can be used by a wide range of medical and other healthcare staff.

Based on the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (ACE-III), one of the most popular and commonly-used screening tools for dementia, the new app provides a more accurate assessment.

Dr Rupert Noad explains: “We are delighted to have been given this opportunity to demonstrate our app. ACE-III is a great assessment tool, but as with many such tools which are paper-based, it has been open to human error and miscalculation. By producing the ACEmobile app we have reduced the risk of such error and miscalculation and created a tool which can be used by the wider dementia care team.

“Dementia is applying increasing pressure on health care services around the world and is set to continue to do so – by creating a reliable, accurate and easy to use application of ACE-III, and making it free of charge, we hope that ACEmobile can play a role in more accurate diagnoses.

Dr Craig Newman adds: “Earlier diagnosis is important because it allows us, along with the patient and those close to them, to prepare a plan of care which can mean great independence and which can introduce therapies and strategies that may slow down the development of the disease.”

ACEmobile will be available to download from iTunes in October 2013. It was developed in collaboration between Dr Rupert Noad, Dr Craig Newman and Professor John Hodges, Neuroscience Research in Australia. It has been supported by the National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care in the South West Peninsula (PenCLAHRC).

Also attending the interactive exhibition, is Dr Stephen Pearson, Consultant in Older Age Psychiatry at Devon Partnership NHS Trust. As well as collaborating on the development of the ACEmobile, Dr Pearson also delivers a portfolio of dementia research trials through Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust and SW DeNDRoN (the dementias and neurodegenerative diseases research network) to help develop treatments for patients with this devastating condition.

Dr Stephen Pearson, said: “Our research work is helping to deliver innovative drug treatments through trials to help patients in their struggle with dementia. We are looking to develop and expand our dementia research to those with early disease in the near future.”

The event at the House of Commons is being led by Plymouth University, also features representatives from Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Devon Partnership Trust, the Plymouth Dementia Action Alliance, Plymouth SeniorNet and the city’s Clinical Effectiveness and Medicines Optimisation Team.

Ian Sherriff, Plymouth University’s Academic Lead for Dementia and one of the Prime Minister’s national dementia champions, said: “Millions of people are directly affected by dementia, from the suffers through to their families and friends. Improved research is vital to tackle the effects of this devastating condition, and the use of the latest innovative technology is a key element, which is constantly being developed.

"Through improved diagnosis, better care and increased support and awareness, we can transform lives and communities right across the country.”