Grand Challenges has given our team the opportunity to discover and develop in the problem space of dementia. Equipped with all sides of engineering and computer science skills, our team is engrained to problem-solve and demo-build our solution.

 

       We began with the idea that caregivers of dementia patients are facing higher levels of depression and stress than caregivers of patients with other diseases. Additionally, we were looking into the unawareness of diagnosis of dementia until a later more severe onset of the cognitive impairment. From conducting interviews with neurologists, psychologists, sleep specialists, caregivers, and MCI facilities, our team has identified a key problem space dementia patients have been facing. Dementia patients are most anxious and have higher levels of confusion when their sleep cycle is interrupted. How can we alleviate this anxiety?

 

      Our research has shown that musical therapy has helped such patients remember their life before the onset of the disease: who they are, who their families are, what they like to listen to. Music has proven, through various research facilities and programs, to help dementia patients regain their livelihoods- bring back a sense of life. Our passion and drive for the problem space comes directly from the people factor- there are real dementia patients struggling to find a sense of identity amidst memory loss. Our team is dedicated to improving the quality of life for dementia patients, thus reducing the pain and stress of caregivers. The Music Therapy Alarm is a theoretical prototype intended to assist dementia patients while waking up, attuned more to their sleep cycles.