PREDEM is a five-year, national investment in precision diagnosis and treatment of dementia. DigitalWell Arena has an important role in creating test environments so that digital tools that enable earlier detection of symptoms can reach primary care.
The innovation environment PREDEM is coordinated by Karolinska Institutet. The aim is to counteract the development of dementia by introducing new methods for early detection, accurate diagnostics and individually tailored prevention and treatment. The vision is that all people who are at risk of suffering from dementia are offered the best possible preventive efforts and treatment based on their individual circumstances.
It is partly about validating and developing new biomarkers for precision diagnostics, and partly about testing and implementing digital tools for early detection.
DigitalWell Arena has recently carried out a test in a real environment together with Geras Solutions, which is also one of the actors in PREDEM. Geras Solutions' digital platform supports dementia investigations and has been used in parallel with the regular operations at Torsby and Likenäs care centres.
Key role for the services to reach healthcare
Now DigitalWell Arena's task within PREDEM is to identify real environments where tests of digital services in the area can be developed and scaled up.
- The possibility of testing is an important step in creating security in the use of digital services. Therefore, we are happy to be part of this important work to develop healthcare processes for the early detection of cognitive impairment, which is crucial for the individual's health, says Marie Granander, Innovation Manager at DigitalWell Arena.
Rickard Forsman, CEO of Geras Solutions, believes that the joint efforts made in PREDEM will be decisive for the care of the future.
A next step will also be to offer a larger group of patients digital screening in connection with regular health checks, for even earlier detection of signs of dementia. Based on data from the pilot study, an evaluation is then made of the effects of digitally supported dementia investigation in primary care. It then forms a basis for how digital tools can be scaled up for effective use in a larger number of healthcare centres.
Large increase in dementia diagnoses
Dementia is a major societal challenge. Around 150,000 Swedes are currently diagnosed with dementia, and the number is expected to double in the next 30 years. A prerequisite for prevention is early detection of symptoms. Today, dementia investigations are often initiated at too late a stage, and here digital tools can both contribute to shorter investigation times and more equal care throughout the country.
- We see that the needs are huge for support with earlier diagnoses and interventions. The PREDEM project will be decisive for the efforts that will be included in the care of the future, and together with society's various actors, it will have a great effect for the individual and his family, but also for the significant socio-economic costs that dementia diseases entail, says Rickard Forsman, CEO, at Geras Solutions.
Facts: Part of national Vinnova investment
- PREDEM is one of a total of eleven innovation environments that are part of a Vinnova-funded investment in precision health. An investment that will pave the way for more preventive, accurate and equal healthcare.
- In total, it is about SEK 323 million, where the innovation environments receive grants of up to SEK 8 million per year for either 2.5 or five years.
- The actors included in PREDEM are: Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Institute for Health Economics, Swedish Dementia Center, Dementia Association, Migration School in Region Skåne, Academic Primary Care Center in Region Stockholm, Region Värmland, DigitalWell Arena, Geras Solutions AB, MindMore AB and Roche AB.
