Rethinking Consumer Health and Care: The Role of Digital Health in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) damage and destroy parts of one’s nervous system, specifically the brain, severely impacting a person’s cognitive ability or motor skills. As the disease progresses, patients lose the ability to live and manage independently. Despite decades of research, there is still no cure available for these conditions. At best, consumers can hope to treat symptoms. As a result, NDs pose a significant burden on consumers living with these conditions, their loved ones, and the health system at large. The direct financial cost of Alzheimer’s and other dementias alone was estimated at $345B in 2023, and caregivers provided an estimated 18B+ hours of unpaid care. Those afflicted often struggle to...