Many people live with chronic conditions as they age. We can remain independent and sustain our quality of life for longer if those diseases are detected early enough and treated adequately.
The European Horizon 2020 research project, titled i-PROGNOSIS, aims to collect data from a wide participant group including healthy volunteers and patients with Parkinson’s disease in order to develop tests for the early detection of Parkinson’s disease. The research focuses on the early identification of specific symptoms (motor and non-motor) which could accelerate a clinical diagnosis of the disease. Furthermore, the project will develop strategies to help improve and maintain the quality of life of patients with Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s disease is a slow progressive condition, with a usual onset in the middle to older age. It presents with motor symptoms (such as tremor of the hands and arms, stiffness of the muscles and slowness of movements) and non-motor symptoms (such as sleep problems, pain, changes in mood, constipation and olfactory disturbances). Despite our knowledge that some symptoms can predate the diagnosis for years, no specific system exists for earlier detection of the disease when prodromal symptoms start to develop.
This is why the i-PROGNOSIS team has developed a mobile application for the detection of early signs of Parkinson’s detection with a tool that we are more and more to use every day: our smartphones.
For the application to detect the adequate signs, it is important that a wide group of participants – including healthy volunteers – participate, so the application can learn to distinguish and detect early signs of Parkinson’s disease. Your contribution is most needed!
You can help develop the apps of tomorrow that will support medical doctors in their diagnosis: download the app on the Google Play store for free and start donating your smartphone data anonymously for medical research today!