Dementia Australia is the source of trusted information, education and services for the estimated more than 400,000 Australians living with dementia and the more than 1.5 million people involved in their care. The aim is to advocate for positive change and support vital research.

Dementia Australia has developed cutting-edge technology applications 'BrainTrack' and 'Talk with Ted' in conjunction with Deakin University's Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute (A2I2), and both are recognised with major awards. 

A free app that helps you privately monitor and understand changes in cognition over time, BrainTrack won the 2023 National iAward in the Community/Not-for-profit category. Brain Track will also compete in the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance Awards in Hong Kong in December.

BrainTrack helps individuals explore common cognitive concerns and provides brain health information through fun, travel-themed games adapted from validated cognitive testing. 

Users can share their results with their General Practitioner to support early identification of cognitive changes that may warrant further testing over time. 

Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe AM said more than 55,000 people had downloaded BrainTrack since its launch in October 2022. 

"That's 55,000 people now learning about being brain healthy, modifiable risk factors of dementia and cognitive decline, and if they have concerns, reaching out early so support and intervention can be accessed," she said.

'Talk with Ted' is an immersive simulation designed to educate participants on better communicating with people with dementia. Last week, Ted won the 2023 Simulation Australasia Project Innovation Award. It is an Artificially Intelligent (AI) Avatar with symptoms of dementia. Talk with Ted provides a realistic simulation for care workers and those supporting people living with dementia to practice their communication skills and learn how to better support people living with dementia.

"The awards were recognition of how technology is transforming support, care practice, knowledge and awareness about dementia in the community and across the health, aged care and disability sectors," Ms McCabe said.

"With more than 400,000 Australians living with dementia – which is projected to increase to more than 800,000 people by 2058 – it is vital that we focus on early diagnosis and quality dementia care," Ms McCabe said. "I congratulate the incredible teams behind both of these groundbreaking tools."

Professor Kon Mouzakis, Co-Director of Deakin University's A2I2 Alfred Deakin, said, "At A2I2 we are committed to advancing knowledge and building systems that benefit society." 

"It is immensely rewarding to work with Dementia Australia applying our expertise to tools like BrainTrack and Talk with Ted that are transforming the experience of aged care - for care workers and for people living with dementia and improving people's lives through increasing understanding about brain health and dementia."

BrainTrack is available for download for free through Apple App Store or Google Play. For more information, visit www.dementia.org.au/braintrack, and for information about Talk with Ted, please visit https://dementialearning.org.au/technology/talk-with-ted/ For both applications, call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.