Um estudo da viabilidade do uso de Realidade Aumentada Móvel para apoio a indivíduos com a Doença de Alzheimer

Abstract

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. With the increase in life expectancy in recent years, the probability of elderly with AD also increases. So far, AD has no cure, but there are treatments that can aid in relieving and possibly slowing the progression of this disease. In addition, a large percentage of patients and their caregivers still face enormous challenges regarding patient care and safety. Disappearance of elderly with AD is frequently reported. As smartphones have become a common accessory in the daily lives of the population, this thesis presents a set of mobile applications to help individuals with early-stage of AD. Materials: The proposed software architecture was designed to contribute through applications, pharmacological treatment, mental health and patient safety. The proposed mobile interface uses Augmented Reality (RA) techniques with voice interactions and virtual buttons to facilitate the performance of cognitive and pharmacological activities. The application to assist in pharmacological treatment alerts the individual verbally and assists in the identification of the drug. In addition, a mobile application for caregivers helps to manage the data and assists in the location of the individual with AD in case he gets lost. Methods: The evaluation was performed with six volunteers with AD and five caregivers. The test was conducted using footage, questionnaires and interview. Hypothesis: The proposed architecture supports the proposed development and makes the system easier to use, thus increasing acceptance in the use of these mobile applications by patients with AD and their caregivers. Results: The results show a positive experience for both patients and caregivers. It highlight the good level of acceptance of cognitive application that has the potential to assist in the treatment of AD.