Researchers have revealed promising results from a recent study exploring the potential of the Blank Slate app to improve memory retention for people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease. The study included 21 college students, 20 adults over 60 without memory impairment, and 20 adults over 60 with MCI due to Alzheimer's disease. Participants were recruited from research registries at Boston University, Quinnipiac University, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The research was approved by the ethics boards at all three organizations.
Over a four-week period, participants used the Blank Slate app for 2-4 minutes daily. Each day, the app helped participants recall the answers to questions about a new topic and helped them recall names of famous celebrities they once knew but had forgotten. This approach aimed to assist participants in learning new facts and retaining fading memories.
Key Findings:
1. Memory Improvement: After four weeks of using the app, individuals with MCI due to Alzheimer's disease showed large improvements in remembering both new facts (from 42% accuracy to 74%) and names of famous celebrities (from 76% accuracy to 93%). These improvements persisted even after participants stopped using the app for over a week.
2. Feasibility: The app proved user-friendly, with 16 out of 20 participants in the Alzheimer’s group able to use it independently during the study. Only four required occasional assistance.
These findings demonstrate that the Blank Slate app can help people live well with MCI due to Alzheimer's disease by learning new information and enhancing their recall of older memories with just a few minutes of daily use. Under the hood, the app is using artificial intelligence to predict memory decay. Then, the app engages users at optimal moments to strengthen memories and prevent forgetting.
“Memory loss is highly feared in the aging population and the Blank Slate app offers a way for people to take charge and actively exercise their memory,” said Dr. Amy Smith, the lead author on the study. “And not only does the Blank Slate app help people retain memories, it is helping a lot. People with Alzheimer’s disease nearly doubled the amount of new facts they could remember after using the app for just a few minutes a day.”
The researchers are currently following up on these promising results. “We’ve just finished following up with the older adult participants a year later to see if they still show memory improvement from using the app. I won’t spoil the results, but they’re looking really good,” said Dr. Smith. The follow-up study is expected to be published in early 2025.
After three years in R&D, this technology is now available for download in the Apple App Store under the name braintrust. Braintrust aims to provide meaningful memory support, fostering confidence and independence, for those worried about memory loss.
You can read our research here.
Call for Feedback
The development team is eager to hear from users. Feedback can be provided within the app or at https://www.trybraintrust.com/contact.
Contact
For more information about the research, please contact the lead author:
Amy Smith, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer, Blank Slate Technologies
amy@blankslatetech.co
