Memory Care Technology: Trends and Innovations Shaping the Future

However, according to research by the Alzheimer’s Association, experts have made huge strides toward understanding Alzheimer’s since it was discovered in 1906. Understanding of the disease gained momentum in the 1970s and 1980s with the birth of institutions like the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the Alzheimer’s Association. By the turn of the century, real, effective treatments for dementia began to emerge.

Today, the world remains united in urgency, grasping for even deeper care, support, and research. This drive towards new research, medical advancements, and technology, as well as improvements in care homes and memory care communities, shapes the future of care for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

In this article:

• Spotlights in transformative research and medical advancements
• Next-level memory care technology
• New improvements in care homes and memory care communities
• What’s next: Memory care innovations moving forward

Scientists representing an array of disciplines are studying dementia and forming close, collaborative partnerships with renowned institutions. Institutions like The National Institutes of Health (NIH) are investing in research to better understand brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. They’re shaping the development of new studies, key initiatives, and potential treatments of dementia-related conditions.

Brain donations and biomarkers shaping research

Perhaps one of the most fascinating innovations in recent memory care research is the study of donated brain tissue. Thanks to modern technology, researchers can use donated brain tissue to study the effects of dementia-related brain changes. Scientists and researchers study the brains of people who have passed away to learn how dementia affects the brain. In fact, a single donated brain can have a huge impact on potentially hundreds of studies.

Researchers learn the most from the brains of people who have participated in studies while they’re still alive. This allows researchers to track changes in memory, thinking, language, and behavior. They can also gather information on biological and environmental factors. If researchers can obtain more detailed information about the brain donor, they can learn about the relationships between their cognitive test results and changes detected in the brain tissue. This knowledge provides context on biomarkers, which also includes data collected in blood tests and brain scans.

Biomarkers help researchers diagnose diseases, track healthy processes, monitor responses to medication, and identify health risks in a person. Research shows that advances in understanding biomarkers have helped researchers track dementia-related changes in the brain. Biomarker research is improving dementia detection, diagnosis, and treatment. Biomarkers may also one day be more widely used in doctors’ offices and various clinical settings.

The use of biomarkers to diagnose dementia is still undergoing research and development. However, scientists now believe that biomarkers can signal brain changes decades before memory loss even appears. Scientists are continually working on ways to slow or prevent the changes that lead to dementia, and biomarkers are proving essential to these projects.

Strategic directions for research

Research from institutions like the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the NIA, and the NIH is addressing the challenges faced by people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. According to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), today’s memory care research focuses on these initiatives:

• With the common goal to increase the number of new diagnostics and therapies for patients, and reduce the cost and time it takes to develop them, the NIH launched the Accelerating Medicines Partnership (AMP). One of their projects, the AMP Program for Alzheimer’s Disease, focuses specifically on treatments and therapeutics for dementia-related diseases.
• To support studies on the genes involved in Alzheimer’s and to identify potential preventions and treatments, the NIH also started the Alzheimer’s Disease Sequencing Project.
• With an ultimate goal of preventing and treating Alzheimer’s by 2025, The Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, Care, and Services convened stakeholders to develop a national strategy to support the success of research and adhere to the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease.
• To help monitor and improve understanding of brain health within public health practices, the CDC is working to implement the Healthy Brain Initiative. This initiative creates partnerships, collects data, promotes brain health awareness, and supports those with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

New FDA-approved treatments on the horizon

New Alzheimer’s treatments are always in development. Many will require significant testing and long-term study, but progress continues. Treatment strategies currently under study include the following:

• Focusing on beta-amyloid plaque build-up, a characteristic sign of Alzheimer’s disease
• Preventing the tangling of the tau protein, another brain abnormality found in Alzheimer’s
• Studying and testing the drug sargramostim (Leukine) to reduce chronic inflammation caused by Alzheimer’s
• Researching insulin resistance and its effects on the brain and brain cell function
• Studying the connection between brain health and heart and blood vessel health, as the risk of dementia increases as a result of damaged arteries
• Testing estrogen-based hormone therapies as studies show these therapies may protect thinking and memory in women with a high risk of Alzheimer’s

While experts generally remain hopeful, different areas of research within one area may conflict. And, developing medications is always a gradual process. That said, in June 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved aducanumab for the treatment of some cases of Alzheimer’s disease. This is the first FDA-approved therapy in the U.S. to treat the underlying biology of Alzheimer’s. It does this by removing amyloid plaques in the brain. Experts need to conduct further studies and identify which patients may benefit from the drug. However, this innovation could mean sustained independence and prolonged memory recall for those with dementia.

Everyday products, like dementia apps, as well as memory care activities can be extremely useful in easing the symptoms of dementia. Calendar apps and voice-activated assistants can help seniors remember tasks like taking medications, controlling the thermostat, and staying connected with loved ones. These devices help provide a sense of control for seniors and reduce their risk of social isolation or boredom.

Today’s advanced memory care technology also helps enhance brain-health awareness and improve access to online health care. The following technological advancements have the potential to relieve caregiver stress and enable seniors with dementia to age in place:

• Telehealth is improving memory care by offering immediate, effective access to dementia care and support. According to the NIA, making dementia care and education more accessible through telehealth helps manage issues at home before a crisis happens. Through video calling on a computer, tablet, or phone, patients and caregivers can attend a remote appointment with a doctor. Telehealth is showing significant, measurable improvements in care delivery and outcomes for dementia patients, including improved well-being, reduced caregiver burden, and a decrease in the number of emergency room visits.

Workers in telehealth are also developing new services and programs that provide help for specific areas of health care, including online senior-focused fitness classes and online caregiver education and training through the Tele-Savvy program. This program ultimately helps teach caregivers how to think like a nurse. It includes weekly video conferences, daily video lessons, and interactive learning about other caregivers’ experiences.

Is memory care the right fit?

• Social media is more and more useful in dementia care. Today more than ever, people look to the internet for health information. For example, studies show that YouTube is effective in delivering dementia education to older adults. Moreover, Twitter and WhatsApp are becoming strong platforms for dementia awareness.

Similar to telehealth care, advancements in social media also provide potential benefits in promoting healthy aging in seniors with dementia. Social media can also help relieve caregiver burden by increasing access to health information and education.

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) may still feel like science fiction to many people. However, AI is showing tremendous promise in areas of health care involving precision medicine, patient engagement, and administrative activities. New AI technology can even help health care workers diagnose and treat patients with dementia-related conditions. It has the potential to predict what treatments are likely to work on a patient.

Recent studies show AI-related improvements in a patient’s daily functioning, quality of life, and well-being. AI can also reduce caregiver burnout by assisting with things like activities of daily living (ADLs), including dressing, grooming, and eating. According to research, robots are more and more able to collaborate with humans and are easily trainable. Soon, this may make it easier for the AI, through a device or robot, to engage with a patient and assist them with specific tasks.

Furthermore, as if they were a human following a script, AI technology can perform structured tasks for administrative purposes. These tasks include updating patient records or billing, which helps professional caregivers in hospitals and medical environments.

Researchers are investigating what works to support dementia caregivers. They’re testing everything from upgrades in training and career development for community staff to the acceleration of research-based memory care programs. Modern memory care communities are raising their standards through the following tactics:

• Specialized service plans are integrated alongside advancements in memory care technology, such as wearable devices that monitor sleep patterns, heart rate, and location. These plans ensure residents have customized care based on their unique history and preferences.
• Enhanced activities play a large part in a memory care resident’s quality of life. Many communities are using new technology to take residents on virtual tours of museums and galleries, virtual group trivia sessions, and virtual musical performances.
• Safety and security improvements, like call button systems and elderly monitoring devices, are seeing expanded use in memory care facilities.
• Improvements in memory care training for staff introduce innovative techniques and ensures staff stay up on trends.

With the momentum in dementia research and memory care technology, experts will likely drive real memory care change at a faster and faster pace. Whether you’re a professional or an at-home caregiver, make a point of keeping an eye out for the newest developments as they occur more and more often. Understanding today’s innovations and research can be crucial in obtaining the best care for your loved one.

To find memory care facilities with the latest advancements, consider reaching out to a Senior Living Advisor at A Place for Mom to find the right care option to suit your needs. This service is free and has helped families find the best local care for decades.

Memory care reviews from residents and families

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