BrainyApp, an app developed by Alzheimer’s Australia and Bupa Health Foundation to reduce dementia risk, is how available for Android users following success with iOS.
Released for the iPhone and iPad last November, BrainyApp reached No 1 in the Australian App Store and has since seen more than 200,000 downloads worldwide, and international requests for an Android version have been flooding in.
“It is extremely encouraging to see that so many people want to make active lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of developing dementia,” said Ita Buttrose, national president of Alzheimer’s Australia. “We have had enquiries from people and other Alzheimer’s associations from around the world, including the Netherlands, South Africa, Mexico and Iceland, wanting to know when the Android version will be available.”
The app is the first of its kind aimed at reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia by monitoring users’ brain and heart health.
The app comes with brain-training games and tips on how to live a brain-healthy lifestyle by showing users what’s good for their hearts and good for their brains. After determining a user’s brain health via a quick survey, a brain-heart health score is assigned and activities are suggested to boost this rating.
“Because there is no cure for dementia we need to give priority to initiatives such as BrainyApp that raise awareness of dementia, and help people to understand and reduce their risk of developing the condition,” said Dr Maree Farrow, Alzheimer’s Australia research fellow and part of the team behind the app.
BrainyApp for Android is available now for free on Google Play.
