This bracelet can help with dementias like Alzheimer's

How a measuring bracelet supports individual dementia therapy

Dementia has been steadily increasing for years. According to the Fraunhofer Institute, more than 70 percent of those over 80 are already affected. Although research in this area is in full swing, curative therapy is not expected in the near future. However, a new bracelet should at least facilitate the care of those affected and improve the quality of life of patients. The wristband serves as a measurement and counseling system and provides inconspicuous sensors continuously updated daily data, which can be used for individualized therapy.

Fraunhofer researchers and partners developed the new care bracelet. This could currently be used for nearly 1.6 million people with dementia in Germany, who become increasingly helpless in the course of the disease and need care. More and more young people are affected. The majority of sufferers suffer from the dementia Alzheimer's disease. The data from the bracelet allow individualized therapy and better care. In addition, the information gained can be used to develop more efficient treatments.

More and more people in Germany are suffering from previously incurable dementias. A new high-tech bracelet is now to improve care and thus provide relatives and sufferers more quality of life. (Image: Robert Kneschke / fotolia.com)

The bracelet is a kind of early warning system

The Fraunhofer Institute states that currently available data from the care are unstructured and poorly usable. Preventive measures can often not be initiated in due time due to a lack of information. This is to be changed with the project PYRAMID. The aim of the institute and its partners is to establish a new care concept that improves the quality of life of people with dementia and their relatives. In addition, a closer cooperation with nursing and medical staff should be realized.

The high-tech wristwatch

The modular, expandable measurement and advice system in the form of a wristwatch automatically measures the necessary health and care data of the dementia patient. "The goal is to unobtrusively accompany the patient from the presumptive diagnosis to the clinical care for years," explains Erik Jung, a physicist at Fraunhofer IZM, in a press release. This information could be kept constantly updated, which increases the self-determination of those affected and give them a chance to stay as long as possible in the familiar environment. With the new measuring system, deterioration could be detected in good time and with prognosis. These data could then be forwarded to the nursing staff or other treatment participants.

What does the bracelet record??

The researchers report that vital signs such as heart rate, body temperature, but also heart rate variability and skin resistance are measured. In addition, outside influences such as outside temperature, brightness and volume are recorded. The movement patterns of the patients are also recorded. For example, if a dementia patient is barely moving or is no longer leaving his or her home, it may indicate a deterioration.

Relatives should be involved in the concept

In addition to the data collected by the bracelet, regularly completed questionnaires of the relatives should be evaluated and included in the diagnosis. The collected data is then transmitted to a documentation system in consideration of current data protection guidelines and can be forwarded from there, for example via an app, to the desired recipients.

Small technical masterpiece

The complete measuring system is inconspicuously integrated in the bracelet. It contains a microcontroller that records the data, a Bluetooth module, a battery, a USB interface and an NFC antenna that can also be used as an automatic door opener. Concept and design studies have already been completed. Currently a prototype is under construction for demonstration purposes. "We are confident that with the measuring system we will be able to increase patient care, improve the cooperation of all those involved and recognize emergency situations such as falls more quickly," concludes Erik Jung. (Vb)