Multilingual dementia app enhances seniors' cognitive abilities

A new mobile app called Ami, developed in Singapore, is aimed at preventing the progression of dementia by enhancing the multilingual thinking of senior individuals. This app, created by a team at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, is potentially the world's first multilingual app for dementia prevention. 

Ami features three touchscreen games in six different languages and dialects, designed for both cognitively healthy seniors and those displaying early signs of dementia. The games can be played in single or dual-language modes and include an avatar to guide users.

The initiative, in collaboration with the social service agency Lions Befrienders, plans to install Ami on approximately 1,000 IM-OK tablets by December 2023. This is significant in Singapore, where around one in ten people over the age of 60 has dementia, and the elderly population is expected to grow, making up a larger portion of the total population.

The app is based on the scientific hypothesis that bilingualism or multilingualism can positively impact the cognitive abilities of the elderly. Studies have shown that cognitive games presented in multiple languages can improve cognitive skills and verbal memory in elderly users, including those with impaired cognitive thinking.

The Ami app has undergone pilot testing and received positive feedback from caregivers, therapists, and welfare organisations, with notable improvements in cognitive outcomes and technology perception. The development team is now seeking additional funding and investment to introduce the app to a wider audience and expand its features using AI technology.