A study conducted by Florida State University Psychology Professor Chris Martin and a team of researchers at the University of Toronto, shows that a smart phone application can enhance memory function in older adults.
Martin was the lead author on the study, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in December. The study found that regular users of the HippoCamera app recalled everyday experiences with over 50 percent more detail than they would otherwise.
Improvements were observed in healthy older adults as well as those showing decline in memory. The findings could prove helpful for those suffering from memory decline, including those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
“Our personal identity is intimately related to memory,” Martin said. “We are what we remember, and when we start to lose our memories because of age, disease, or injury, we also lose our sense of self. Our hope is that by helping people feel closer to the events and people in their lives that we can also protect that sense of self.”
Martin answered a few questions about the study and the HippoCamera App.
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