Drug-free therapy approach for dementia patients

Wuppertal psychology student Tania Lalgi conducted research at a pioneering institute in Salamanca with the "Golden Memories" app developed in Wuppertal

Ms Lalgi, you completed your Master's degree in Psychology at the University of Wuppertal. As part of a research internship, you worked with people suffering from dementia at the CRE Alzheimer Salamanca research institute in Spain. How did you get involved in the first place?

Lalgi: I discovered the topic through a somewhat unusual connection. During my Master's degree, I worked as a student trainee in the field of UX design, where I was intensively involved in usability testing. In other words, I learnt how to design and test digital applications in a user-friendly way - always with a focus on the needs of the user.
I came to the research institute in Salamanca through Dr Carmen Pérez González, the co-developer of Golden Memories, which was created with the support of milkmoney GmbH. She was specifically looking for someone to help with a research project to evaluate the app. Her idea was to test the app in a usability test with people with dementia. The aim was not only to analyse technical hurdles, but also how well the content evokes emotional reactions.
Accordingly, a scientific collaboration was established between the University of Wuppertal and the CRE Alzheimer's Research Institute in Salamanca, and I then went to Spain for the research internship to test the app with patients there.

The institute is internationally renowned for its special focus on non-pharmacological therapies. What does that mean?

Lalgi: Non-pharmacological therapies are approaches that do not require medication and aim to promote the well-being of people with dementia. The CRE Alzheimer's Institute uses the No-Do programme(Non-Drug Therapies for Dementia), which includes reminiscence, music and art therapy as well as movement therapy.
One example is working with biographical content such as photos, music or everyday objects that activate memories and evoke positive emotional reactions. For example, patients can be reminded of moments from their childhood through a familiar song or familiar objects. These methods not only strengthen the emotional connection to relatives, but also the self-esteem and quality of life of those affected - a holistic approach. Accordingly, the institute enjoys an outstanding international reputation in this field because it not only researches innovative methods such as the No-Do programme, but also successfully puts them into practice.

You worked there with the "Golden Memories" application, which was developed by Dr Carmen Pérez Gonzáles, a scientist working in Wuppertal, together with the experience design agency milkmoney. What application is this?

Lalgi: Golden Memories is a digital application that enables reminiscence therapy in a modern and accessible way. The app uses personalised content such as photos and stories to help people with dementia relive their memories. A relative can upload old family photos to the app and personalise them with short stories. The patient can then navigate through this picture gallery. This often evokes strong emotional reactions and helps to activate memories that were thought to be lost.

What experiences have you had with the patients?

Lalgi: One situation in particular has stayed with me: During a session, I showed a patient a picture of a typical river scene in Spain from the 1930s and 1940s. This and many other pictures were kindly made available to us by the Archivo de la Diputación de Salamanca. At first the patient was quiet, just looking at the picture - but after a while she began to smile and suddenly started talking vividly about her childhood. The picture reminded her of her mother washing clothes by the river and helping her as a little girl. As she spoke, she even began to sing the songs that the women used to sing by the river. This moment was very moving. It was as if the picture had revived the memory and the emotions associated with it in a wonderful way. Such moments impressively demonstrate how powerful images can be in activating memories and building a bridge to times long past.

You say: "These findings emphasise the potential of 'Golden Memories' as a valuable, non-pharmacological tool to support memory work and promote meaningful connections". In principle, this application can also be used by laypeople in the private sphere, right?

Lalgi: Yes, definitely. The app has a very low-threshold design and is easy to use. Relatives can use it in a private setting to provide reminiscence therapy. You can digitise old family photos and add short anecdotes or audio recordings in the app. The patient can then browse through the content alone or together with family members.
I think it's particularly important that the app offers relatives an easy way to reconnect with their loved ones. Conversations with people with dementia are often difficult because current topics are no longer understood. But shared memories - of previous trips, celebrations or experiences - create closeness and connect.

You now work as a psychologist and research assistant at the LVR University Hospital in Essen. Can you contribute your experience with non-pharmacological therapies there?

Lalgi: Yes, definitely. In my clinical work, I see time and again how important it is to incorporate non-pharmacological approaches alongside pharmacological treatments. Methods such as reminiscence or music therapy are particularly helpful when working with older patients and people with depression or cognitive impairments.
For example, I like to use biographical conversations in which we talk specifically about positive memories. Such conversations help to break down emotional barriers and boost patients' self-esteem. In the long term, I would like to see digital tools such as Golden Memories more integrated into the everyday clinical routine of geriatric facilities. Such applications could play a particularly important role in care facilities.

Where can people find out more about the Golden Memories project?

Lalgi: Information is available on the CRE Alzheimer Salamanca website and in scientific articles by Dr Carmen Pérez González. We are also working on publishing a manual for the use of Golden Memories. Anyone interested can also contact me or Dr Carmen Pérez González directly. We look forward to the exchange and to hearing from relatives and carers who would like to find out more about the application. The app is freely available in both the App Store and the Gamestore.

Further information can be found at

https://crealzheimer.imserso.es/web/cre-alzheimer
https://www.golden-memories.de/

Uwe Blass

Psychologist Tania Lalgi studied for her Master's degree at the University of Wuppertal and now works in psychosomatic medicine at the LVR University Hospital in Essen.