Scottsdale startups team up for dementia research
/SCOTTSDALE, AZ | April 13, 2017 - Researchers from two Scottsdale based companies, SMART Brain Aging, Inc. and Saccadous, Inc. are seeking men and women between the ages of 65-75 to participate in a Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) research study to determine the effectiveness of cognitive exercises designed to reduce or stabilize the symptoms of dementia. Participants will also help validate and test new innovative methods of early diagnosis.
A person with MCI is at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's or another dementia. Mild cognitive impairment causes cognitive changes that are serious enough to be noticed by the individuals experiencing them or to other people, but the changes are not severe enough to interfere with daily life or independent function.
“We find that there is a strong correlation between amnestic MCI and the progression to Alzheimer’s disease,” explained Dr. John DenBoer, CEO of Smart Aging, Inc. “Finding ways to non-invasively detect aMCI can give us a head start on interventions that may treat or slow the progression of the disease.”
Research indicates that 1 in 3 men and 1 in 2 women will suffer from dementia by age 85. Researchers from Barrow’s Neurological Institute (Dignity Health) have discovered new methods for diagnosing and differentiating neurological disorders by measuring characteristics of involuntary eye movements, called microsaccades. Clinicians from Smart Brain Aging have identified new cognitive exercises that have the potential to curb the effects of dementia.
The duration of the study is one year, and a minimum of 100 subjects will be required to participate. Individuals who elect to participate may be required to participate in one of four groups which requires weekly appointments for cognitive therapy. Volunteers must be Phoenix or Scottsdale residents and able to travel by car to an appointment site near Chaparral and Scottsdale Road. The study begins in May 2017 and concludes mid-2018.
“We really appreciate the opportunity to work with Dr. DenBoer on this study,“ said Craig Caffarelli, CEO of Saccadous, Inc. “When startups can work together, rather than compete, it really gives us a chance to move the needle and strengthen each other’s mission and vision.”
Participants have the opportunity to help advance research that is potentially disruptive and has the potential to reveal ground-breaking innovation in both the diagnosis and treatment.
For more information about this study, contact us at 1-855-B-SMART-Ø. Ashley or Mona will assist in scheduling interested participants.
ABOUT SMART AGING, INC:
SMART Brain Aging, Inc. is a healthcare technology company delivering research supported programs, in-person and virtually, that reduce cognitive decline in aging brains. SMART Brain Aging, Inc. was incorporated in 2016 with the backing of over seven years of dementia research and many years of design and development. The inspiration for the products we provide comes from the research of Dr. John DenBoer, clinical neuropsychologist, and is further fueled by the personal family experiences with dementia of both Dr. DenBoer and other company staff. www.smartbrainaging.com
ABOUT SACCADOUS, INC:
Saccadous (pronounced ‘suh-KAY-dis’) is a healthcare hardware startup dedicated to providing a non-invasive platform technology for diagnosing, tracking and advancing the treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and other neurological diseases. This is done through the capture and analysis of voluntary and involuntary eye-movements taken during a 5 minute eye test. www.saccadous.com