Web search keywords can help spot early Alzheimer’s cases
January 2020

The earlier Alzheimer’s is diagnosed, the better the outlook. Though there is no medication that can stop or reverse the disease, there are medications and lifestyle changes that can help alleviate its effects. The problem is that people with memory problems tend to seek out help when their caretakers no longer feel able to cope with their worsening symptoms. ###The MOPEAD project research entailed a kind of pilot awareness-raising campaign that set out to test different ways of spotting sufferers in the population and directing them towards services that can diagnose and educate, and if necessary, treat them. In an interview with the IMI Programme Office, Assistant Professor Milica G. Kramberger from the University Medical Centre Ljubljana in Slovenia explains how the project used web searches, memory clinic open days, and visits to the doctor to identify people who could have Alzheimer’s.

‘The interesting thing we found was that we noticed, in Slovenia, that as a result of the awareness campaign, people started to worry about their own health, and started going to the doctor to get their memory checked a lot earlier,’ said Dr Kramberger. ‘In the past people went to the doctor only when their caregiver could not cope anymore.’

The MOPEAD research was carried out in Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden. The project also includes a feasibility study of cultural differences, healthcare system differences and the differences in models of patient engagement throughout Europe. The team will produce recommendations for policymakers based on their findings.

Read more

• IMI’s news item
• MOPEAD project factsheet

MOPEAD project begins patient recruitment
May 2018

IMI’s MOPEAD project has recruited its first patients in studies designed to identify people who may have early stage Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, many people with Alzheimer’s disease only receive a diagnosis when their disease is relatively advanced. The MOPEAD project is trialling different approaches, tools and mechanisms to engage communities ###and ensure people with Alzheimer’s disease receive the support they need as early as possible. The project is testing four broad strategies in Spain (where the first patients were recruited) as well as Germany, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Sweden. People who take part in the study will undergo screening for mild cognitive impairment and, if needed, more extensive tests. If the tests show the person may have early stage Alzheimer’s disease, they will be offered support and resources including access to clinical trials as well as recommendations to improve their quality of life.