Digital Health bits | September 30th 2020
Note: Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer
FDA launches digital health-focused center of excellence
The FDA has launched a new center of excellence to oversee digital health products such as smartphone apps, wearable devices and software-based treatments.
It will also promote strategies for the regulation of health IT services and technologies for studying drugs and devices as well as artificial intelligence and machine learning programs.
Going forward, the initiative will serve as a coordinating hub within the agency’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health to assist with related regulatory activities and to provide digital health policy expertise to the FDA as a whole.
#DigitalHealth
Read more: https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/fda-launches-digital-health-focused-center-excellence
Cognoa preps FDA filing for digital autism diagnostic
An artificial intelligence-powered diagnostic for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), developed by Cognoa, has met all its objectives in a pivotal trial and will be filed for approval with the FDA.
The ASD diagnostic app is designed to serve as a tool that can be used by paediatricians in primary care to detect autism traits early on and start treatment sooner.
At the moment, paediatricians have to refer children with suspected developmental delay due to ASD to specialists for diagnosis and treatment, a process that can according to Cognoa take months or even years.
The app uses data input by carers or doctors, including short video footage, and deploys machine learning to assess whether a child is developing at a healthy pace and look for signs of ASD. It’s reported that parents can often spot the early signs of developmental problems within 18 months.
The ASD tool was put through its paces in a study involving 425 children aged 18 to 72 months who were suspected of having developmental delay but had never been evaluated or diagnosed with ASD.
The app’s ability to predict autism was compared to the usual clinical evaluation process by specialists, and according to Cognoa “surpassed all FDA targets” in the study. The data isn’t available yet however as it is being prepared for peer-review publication.
#DigitalHealth
Read more: https://pharmaphorum.com/news/cognoa-preps-fda-filing-for-digital-autism-diagnostic/
Mindleap Launches Digital Platform Intended For Psychedelic Aftercare
Mindleap Health, a subsidiary of Mydecine Innovations Group Inc. (OTC:MYCOF) has launched a digital health platform that combines telehealth with mood, emotion, and habit tracking. Starting with psychedelic integration, the Mindleap platform will bring mental health specialists online, enabling a new era of digital mental health and wellness. The company said that later this year it will add other types of mental health specialists such as addiction and holistic wellness specialists.
Simon Abou-Antoun Mindleap Chief Technology officer said, “Mindleap was designed with trust as our number one priority. Our platform is fully secure and all data is encrypted in-transit and at-rest and we are committed to each individual’s right to full privacy and confidentiality when they use our platform.”
#DigitalHealth #DigitalTherapeutics
Digital mental health treatment just as effective as in-person therapy: study
Digital mental health treatment can work just as well as in-person therapy according to newly published research by a team of rehabilitation, psychology, psychiatry and military experts based at the University of Alberta.
The researchers carried out a scoping review of studies about mental health treatment delivered by telephone or computer to military members, veterans and public safety personnel, a designation that includes ambulance, fire, police, corrections officers and emergency services dispatchers.
“This is a group that tend to be affected by trauma that they experience in their work at a higher rate than people in other professions, whether they are in combat or in their day-to-day roles,” said lead author Chelsea Jones, an occupational therapist with the Canadian Armed Forces in Edmonton and a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine.
#DigitalHealth #DigitalTherapeutics
Read more: https://www.folio.ca/digital-mental-health-treatment-just-as-effective-as-in-person-therapy-study/
Putting Virtual Rehab for Stroke Patients to the Test
Researchers at the University of East Anglia have been putting virtual reality rehabilitation for stroke survivors to the test. They have created a new gaming platform which uses low cost videogame technology to improve the lives of stroke patients suffering from complex neurological syndromes caused by their stroke. And they have been working with stroke survivors and their carers to see how they get on with using the new technology.
It is hoped that this type of technology, which can be used in patients' own homes, could prove particularly beneficial for rehabilitation during periods of lockdown, social distancing and shielding - caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are 1.2 million stroke survivors in the UK and around 20-40 per cent of them suffer a debilitating disorder called 'hemispatial neglect'. The condition leaves people unaware of things located on one side of their body and greatly reduces their ability to live independently.
A new study published last week is the first to explore the usability of virtual reality games for helping stroke patients recover from this condition.
#DigitalHealth #DigitalTherapeutics #VR #VirtualReality
Read more: https://www.digitalhealthnews.eu/research/6252-putting-virtual-rehab-for-stroke-patients-to-the-test
Digital technology keeps dementia patients connected with loved ones
A pathfinder programme in Leeds has uncovered the benefits technology can bring to the health and wellbeing of people with dementia.
The Leeds Dementia Pathfinder programme provided technology such as iPads and Alexa devices to carers in care homes and hospitals wards as well as support groups.
Patients said the tools made them feel less isolated while carers highlighted practical benefits such as enabling them to manage medication or easily access health information.
One carer said it had “changed her and her dad’s life” after she used it for medication, exercise and appointment reminders.
Val Hewison, chief executive of Carers Leeds, said: “The Leeds Dementia Pathfinder had a really positive impact on carers’ lives. During the coronavirus crisis and lockdown, it was more crucial than ever to keep in contact with carers of people with dementia.
“We used our experience and knowledge gained through the Leeds Dementia Pathfinder work to do this. We found creative approaches to digital technology to help carers who are socially isolated and by so doing, we improved that ever important connectivity with families and communities.”
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Note: Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer