New Camera Designed to Help Dementia Sufferers

The Telegraph

March 23, 2009

United Kingdom  

The lightweight 'SenseCam' is worn around the neck and takes a photograph every 30 seconds, or whenever it detects a change in light, body heat or activity. 

It captures the everyday images which a healthy human brain usually stores as memories - a process that breaks down in those suffering from amnesia or dementia. 

The images are then played back-to-back at high speed to stimulate a patient's memory and help recreate the emotions attached to various experiences. 

Over time, the process helps boost the autobiographical memory in severely amnesic patients, who would usually forget a significant event within days or even hours. 

Hailed as a 'black box for the human body' the SenseCam was first unveiled by Microsoft Research Cambridge in 2007. 

Following two years of development and testing, clinical trials have shown a "marked" improvement in the memory of patients suffering from amnesia. 

Experts say their research is the first step towards developing ground-breaking treatments for Alzheimer's and other devastating forms of dementia. 

Dr Steve Hodges, principal hardware engineer and manager of the sensors and devices group at Microsoft Research Cambridge, said his team were excited about the results. 

He said: "It's clear that SenseCam has a huge potential both as a memory aid and as a tool for clinicians to better understand cognitive brain functions and further advance the study of neuroscience. 

"We're really excited to be able to extend the project to actively involve so many leading researchers and clinicians around the world. 

"If we can conclusively demonstrate SenseCam can improve memory - and thereby the quality of life - in patients with amnesia and memory loss from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, that would be an absolutely tremendous result." 

The design of the camera, which can store about 30,000 images - roughly a fortnight's worth - is deliberately straightforward, using a fisheye lens and simple sensors. 

Tests showed that those given a SenseCam were able to remember the images on playback, rather than just talk objectively about them. 

Crucially, the SenseCam enables patients to re-live the thoughts and feelings at the time. 

Originally developed as an aid to finding lost keys, the device is significantly more effective than traditional memory triggers such as alarms, diaries and calenders. 

Dr Emma Berry, clinical neuropsychologist at Addenbrooke's, led the functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) study of an amnesic woman. 

Her findings were published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry with Practical Neurology earlier this month. 

The study centred around Mrs B, a 66-year-old librarian diagnosed with the rare brain infection limbic encephalitis in 2002. 

As a result of her condition Mrs B's memory deteriorated to the point where she would forget events within days unless she repeatedly rehearsed her experiences. 

But after replaying images of a significant event - like a theatre trip or a night away in a hotel with her husband - on the SenseCam every two days for two weeks Mrs B could retain memories for months afterwards. 

Dr Berry said: "Until now, the neural basis for our patient's memory improvement has been unknown. 

"But through the results of this study, we've found evidence to suggest that these events were remembered and not just learned from excessive exposure of the SenseCam images. 

"Our fMRI study shows that when she looks at the images, she not only remembers the event, which is incredible given the level of her amnesic syndrome, but that she activates parts of the brain associated with normal episodic memory." 

The fMRI trial, run jointly by Addenbrooke's and the Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge, is one of several similar studies taking place globally. 

Despite its success, there are currently no plans to market the SenseCam commercially until the completion of the clinical trials. 

But following the trials, it could be made available to the UK's 750,000 dementia sufferers. 

There is currently no cure for any of the 100-plus types of dementia, including Alzheimer's. 

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