Samsung Spain, together with Spanish scientists from Vigo University, has announced the launch of The Mind Guardian, a gamified application based on artificial intelligence (AI) that presents a memory self-assessment test for large-scale screening of signs of cognitive impairment, a common symptom in the early stages of diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

The Mind Guardian is aimed at people aged 55 and older, and its free availability through an Android tablet allows large-scale screening in the early stages of various neurological and psychiatric diseases with 97% accuracy, according to the South Korean company.

Moreover, early detection of the cognitive disease can help improve the quality of life of those affected for over ten years and reduce Alzheimer’s side effects by 40%, Samsung highlights.

Alzheimer’s is a disease that affects 800,000 people in Spain alone, according to the technology company. To help those affected, the main mission of The Mind Guardian is to provide tangible support to both affected individuals and their families and caregivers, considering early detection as a key factor in significantly improving quality of life by enabling more effective interventions from the initial stages of the disease.

Alzheimer’s prevention has advanced in strides recently and has seen an important medical breakthrough in recent years, as a new vaccine is believed to be capable of preventing Alzheimer’s disease.

Gaming for 45 minutes can detect Alzheimer’s

The Mind Guardian, available at the Samsung store and other app stores, recreates a city that symbolises the user’s mind, where they explore their memory through three missions. With a focus on early detection and after a session of about 45 minutes, The Mind Guardian offers users a simple solution to identify possible signs of cognitive impairment, reducing the negative effects of the so-called “white coat syndrome” or fear of undergoing tests in healthcare environments.

In case of detecting potential signs of cognitive impairment, The Mind Guardian acts as an initial alert that speeds up subsequent consultations with medical professionals for diagnosis and potential access to therapies and treatments available for the early stages of these conditions, as well as personal and family planning.

Regarding AI, Samsung explains that every move in the game generates “revealing data” that creates a “mental X-ray” that allows key memory functions to be assessed.

Alfonso Fernández, CMO & Head of Direct to Consumer at Samsung Iberia, explains that “the launch of this solution marks a milestone in the tools available for detecting early-stage signs of cognitive impairment, due to its universal, free, and accessible nature.”

“With The Mind Guardian, we bring large-scale screening into homes, facilitating early detection that can make a difference in the quality of life of patients, their families, and their caregivers,” he continues.

Collaborative effort against Alzheimer’s

This project originates from the result of a multidisciplinary effort spanning several years, developed by a highly specialized team that has combined efforts in the fields of technology, health, and research to advance the early detection of cognitive impairment.

Specifically, in addition to Samsung Iberia, the project has also involved the Telecommunications Technology Research Center of the University of Vigo (atlanTTic), the Translational Neuroscience Group of the Galicia Sur Health Research Institute, and the advertising agency Cheil, with the scientific-technological endorsement of the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN) and the scientific endorsement of the Spanish Society of Psychiatry and Mental Health (SEPSM).