Improving autobiographical episodic memory, quality of life, and sense of self with a smartphone intervention in early dementia: A case study

Abstract

In memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, recent autobiographical memories are disproportionately vulnerable to loss, yet most traditional reminiscence therapies focus on remote past events. We present a case study examining whether a digital reminiscence intervention designed to support memory for recent experiences can improve episodic recall and psychosocial outcomes in neurodegenerative memory impairment. G.F., a 79-year-old man with early-stage dementia, completed an 11-week personalized intervention using HippoCamera, a neuroscience-based smartphone application that helps users generate and review multimodal memory cues from everyday events. Events that G.F. reviewed using HippoCamera were recalled with greater episodic detail than events that were recorded but not reviewed. Post-intervention, G.F. reported improvements in quality of life, life satisfaction, self-concept, and perceived episodic and spatial memory abilities, along with reduced depressive symptoms. Qualitative feedback revealed that the intervention helped G.F. regain confidence, re-engage socially, and feel more optimistic about the future. These findings suggest that digital interventions targeting memory for recent experiences–a domain often overlooked in traditional reminiscence therapy–may provide benefits to cognition and quality of life in the early stages of dementia. This work highlights the promise of HippoCamera as an accessible, neuroscience-informed tool to support memory and well-being in those experiencing memory loss.