These MedTech Apps Can Keep Your Mind Healthy

Although healthcare structures are vastly different between places like Los Angeles and Toronto, technology is breaking down barriers by tackling some of the biggest problems plaguing the global medical science community as a whole. Regardless of where you are, MedTech apps in development have the potential to change your life and maybe one day save it too.

Mood Follows Behavior

Recently published research from Brigham Young University elucidates the powerful effect that mHealth apps can have on mental and emotional health. The study surveyed 150 people utilizing health apps over the past six months. The results were astounding — 90% of the 150 participants in the study said they were more confident and empowered to improve their mental health after engaging with the apps.

Benjamin Crookston, PhD, was the lead author and researcher in the published study: “Our findings show that mental and emotional health-focused apps have the ability to positively change behavior. This is great news for people looking for inexpensive, easily accessible resources to help combat mental and emotional health illness and challenges.”

One of the study’s most important findings was how perceived positive behavior change (using the apps) carried through positivity to other aspects of the study participants’ lives. The research team plans on studying different types of mHealth apps to pinpoint the effects of each.

“As apps are evaluated and additional theory-based apps are created, cost-effective self-help apps may become common preventative and treatment tools in the mental health field,” the study concludes.

Mobile on the Brain

Another recently published study from the University of South Florida shows promise for reducing the risk of dementia. In the study, a MedTech app was found to possibly lower the risk of developing dementia by as much as 30% in seniors who “trained their brain.” According to experts, this is the first time an mHealth app has had a measurable impact on cognitive health.

Per a 2010 study, dementia affects nearly 15% of all seniors over 71 years old and 30% of seniors over 90 years old. Dementia affects approximately 34.4 million people worldwide and costs roughly $422 billion. According to experts, delaying the onset of dementia by even two years could decrease the number of worldwide cases by 20% in 30 years.

Jerri D. Edwards, the lead author of the study, elaborates on its significance: “Everyone with a brain is at risk of dementia. This is the first treatment ever shown in a clinical trial to make a difference.”

Higher-Quality Apps Can Lead to a Higher Quality of Life

MedTech app development often doesn’t get the same amount of hype as other industries like artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, or Blockchain. It’s easy to see why — when most people think of the future, they want to imagine what’s fun and exciting, not possible medical issues.

Regardless, the advancement of medical science is arguably more important than all of the above-named technologies. After all, if we don’t take care of ourselves, then all of those technological paradigms have no point for existing. It’s inspiring to see how mobile app developers are innovating in the medical field, and we’re excited to see what comes next from these studies.