Jennifer J Stamps, PhD | Rendever; Kyle Rand, Co-founder/CEO, BS/BSE | Rendever
Competition Sponsor: US National Academy of Medicine
Awardee Year: 2022
As healthcare costs and the aging population increase, preventing the loss of cognitive and physical function is an urgent initiative. Social isolation increases the risk of dementia by 50%, and stroke and cardiovascular disease by 30%, three major causes of loss of function. Equally pressing is the shortage of clinicians to manage the care of this demographic, causing delays between functional changes and effective treatment. While evidence shows exercise as an effective strategy for maintaining independence, preventing cognitive and physical disability, and reducing the healthcare burden of aging populations, compliance is a problem. Interactive video game cycling has shown significant increases in the enjoyment of exercise. RendeverFit™, a virtual reality (VR) fitness platform, developed around the neurological and physical needs of seniors, is the first to combine physical exercise with cognitive stimulation and multiplayer social engagement. Research in exergaming has demonstrated improvements in cognition and potential efficacy to create a digital diagnostic biomarker. This latest VR technology from Rendever may allow for the administration of remote and automated assessments for various use cases, including rehabilitation, patient monitoring, and identifying and alerting to risk factors of cognitive and physical decline. This award enables further development of the needed capabilities in collaboration with other neurodegenerative clinicians and neurological and orthopedic rehabilitation physical therapists to optimally meet their clinical assessment and reporting needs.
To learn more about this proposal, email healthylongevity@nas.edu.