Last month saw the launch of a new multilingual application in Luxembourg designed to help prevent dementia.
Developed in the framework of the Programme for Dementia Prevention (pdp), Braincoach offers a wealth of information to help people in Luxembourg "stay mentally alert and motivated" to make positive changes to their lifestyle. The free app is available on Google Play and Apple App Store, in French, German and English.
Nearly 8,000 people are affected by dementia in Luxembourg. The process leading to dementia begins up to 20 years before symptoms become apparent and a diagnosis is made; the new app thus aims to "raise awareness and promote a healthy lifestyle" among a wider audience.
Luxembourg's Minister of Health and Social Security, Martine Deprez, commented: "We want to build a healthier future for our ageing population. Hence, dementia prevention is a healthcare priority for Luxembourg. Thanks to this new app, we will gain even more visibility for our ongoing efforts in that regard".
To find out more about the app, Chronicle.lu spoke with Prof. Rejko Krüger, Professor for Clinical and Experimental Neuroscience at the University of Luxembourg and Director of Transversal Translational Medicine at the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) - and coordinator of the pdp.
Chronicle.lu: Firstly, what are the main goals of the Programme for Dementia Prevention (pdp), and how does the new Braincoach app fit within this programme/toolbox?
Prof. Rejko Krüger: The Programme for Dementia Prevention (pdp) is an initiative in Luxembourg designed to help prevent dementia in people who show early signs of memory problems or other cognitive changes. This includes people who have a mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which means they have noticeable but not severe memory or thinking issues, or a subjective cognitive decline (SCD), where they feel their memory or thinking is slipping even if formal testing is still within the limits. The programme focuses on providing personalised interventions via vouchers that address specific modifiable risk factors like lack of physical activity or malnutrition to support brain health.
The pdp programme successfully recruited more than 700 people. However, the mean age of participants is 68 years and research demonstrates that risk prevention should even start at earlier ages to increase efficiency. Therefore, we developed the Braincoach app to raise awareness for brain health in younger people.
Chronicle.lu: Please tell us a bit about the app development process, from idea creation and potential market research to testing and launch. Approximately how long did the process take, and how many people were directly involved?
Prof. Rejko Krüger: pdp Braincoach is based on the original "Mijn Breincoach" app developed by our colleagues from Maastricht University in the Netherlands to address this growing health concern. It was important to create a user-friendly and easily accessible tool for a wider audience to expand on the importance of risk factor awareness and introducing the possibility for users to take control as early as possible in reducing their risk of dementia. Lifestyle modifications have been scientifically proven as efficient tools for prevention strategies.
The process of developing the app for Luxembourg took approximately two years and is a joint collaboration between the Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine at the University of Luxembourg and the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg.
We created different types of content relevant for Luxembourg, which explain how the different risk factors are associated with dementia and what people can concretely do to reduce their personal risk. In fact, the work within the pdp programme, especially the interactions with participants, was also a strong motivator for developing the app.
Chronicle.lu: Please elaborate on the ways in which the app concept developed in the Netherlands ("Mijn Breincoach") has been "specifically adapted" for a Luxembourg audience.
Prof. Rejko Krüger: The content of pdp Braincoach has been entirely reworked and specifically adjusted for the Luxembourg environment. We offer new content and specific information as well as highlight initiatives and resources in Luxembourg to encourage users to continue learning more about the risk factor and what is available to them locally, e.g. specific hiking routes for physical activities. We also have added scientifically-backed sources for users interested in expanding their knowledge in related research fields.
Chronicle.lu: What are some of the key features of the app and how can these help improve brain function? Have these been developed based on dementia research here in Luxembourg?
Prof. Rejko Krüger: All features of the app were developed based on international research efforts and align closely with the 2024 Lancet Commission report on dementia prevention, intervention and care, which is widely regarded as the key publication in dementia research. The report is regularly updated and in the meantime identified modifiable risk factors that, when addressed, can collectively reduce dementia risk by up to 45%.
Following its recommendations, the app has been developed to incorporate lifestyle modification for twelve risk factors: nutrition, physical activity, mood, mental stimulation, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, kidney disease, cholesterol, obesity, smoking and alcohol. To begin, users complete a questionnaire to receive their individualised risk profile. The app tells them where they are doing well and where there is room for improvement. They can then select risk factor themes to activate and will receive a daily notification with relevant information to learn more about staying cognitively healthy by keeping an eye on their specific risk factors. These notifications could be short advice, tips or even quizzes and challenges to complete. So, with just a few minutes a day, people can learn how to keep their brain healthy.
Chronicle.lu: We understand the app is mainly for adults. Are there plans/hopes to eventually expand the app with child-friendly features, to reach an even younger audience?
Prof. Rejko Krüger: Principally it's possible; it's never too early to learn about dementia prevention for the future and we know that early life education and awareness for brain health is beneficial! For the moment, we want to empower all adults, especially those middle aged, to make proactive choices in maintaining brain health. Research has shown that the processes related to neurodegeneration can be observed up to 20 years before symptoms appear. Therefore, taking steps for early prevention has a direct impact on future dementia risk and progression.
Chronicle.lu: Was the decision to make the app free and multilingual aimed at opening up the app to a wider audience?
Prof. Rejko Krüger: Absolutely, as we would like to provide access for everyone. It was therefore a priority to be inclusive and have the app be trilingual. By offering the information in English, French and German, pdp Braincoach is available to the international community in Luxembourg.
For more information about pdp Braincoach, visit https://www.pdp-app.lu/
