Press Releases
October 2011
Rickard Keen client leading the fight against Alzheimer’s
A client of Essex-based Chartered Accountants Rickard Keen is leading the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and dementia with a pioneering iPad app.
Dr Jane Worlock is the chairman of Cambridge Cognition which has developed a ten-minute iPad test which it says will help GPs objectively pick up the early signs of Alzheimer’s.
It has been developed from CANTAB™ technology, first designed by Cambridge University scientists in 1986 to test brain function.
The CANTAB™ suite of computerised cognitive tests has been used in areas from Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer’s, to testing divers’ brain performance following decompression and the impact of sleep deprivation on astronauts, soldiers and pilots.
The ten-minute visual memory test “app” is to be trialed by GPs this year, after independent research indicated that it is 95 per cent accurate at distinguishing healthy people whose memory is in decline due to ageing, from those showing the early signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia.
In a precursor to a planned national launch next year, the trial aims to tackle the time taken to deliver treatment and care for patients with memory problems, reducing the 80 per cent of Alzheimer’s cases the company claims are not currently diagnosed.
The new app could open doors for Cambridge Cognition in the huge US healthcare market. Turnover is expected to grow by 30 per cent this year with the company diverging from specific tailored packages to “off-the-shelf” products.
“We were making a ‘Rolls-Royce’ for everyone, which was far too expensive and slow. We realised we had so much information, that if we could direct our clients to taking off-the-shelf products that only needed some tailoring, that’s the way to go,” said Dr Worlock.
“We had some job losses, rationalised the products and we’ve been profitable ever since.”
Noel Kelleway from Rickard Keen who has worked with Dr Worlock for more than 15 years, said: “It has always been a great pleasure to work with Jane and we are extremely proud of what she and her colleagues are doing”
“Jane is leading the fight against Alzheimer’s with her innovative company. Her work is truly inspirational and could help detect the early onset of what is a traumatic disease.
“I am glad that Cambridge Cognition has turned a corner and now seems to have a bright future.
“Jane’s hard work is finally paying off.”