Abstract
Introduction: Multimorbidity is prevalent among older adults and is associated with cognitive impairment and dementia, increasing the need for innovative care solutions. The CAREPATH project, funded by the European Commission Horizon 2020 program, has developed an integrated care platform tailored to older adults with multimorbidity, particularly those with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia. This platform aims to enhance screening, optimize personalized treatment, and support multidisciplinary care, aligning with the European Society of Medicine's policy framework for managing neurodegenerative diseases.
Methods: This paper describes the methodology for implementing an integrated care platform focused on managing mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia. CAREPATH architecture supports multidisciplinary care teams in creating personalized treatment plans based on evidence-based guidelines, involving patients and their caregivers. The platform for healthcare professionals features modular disease pages for comprehensive care, including dedicated sections for screening complications and delivering non-pharmacological interventions such as nutrition, lifestyle, and physical exercise recommendations.
Results: The CAREPATH platform has been fully implemented from a technical perspective, with the next step being the clinical investigation to evaluate its efficacy in improving health-related quality-of-life for older adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia and its cost-effectiveness. This study will be conducted in two phases: a technical validation and usability study, followed by a clinical investigation (randomized clinical trial) across four European centers in Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom and Romania. Preliminary tests, including functional, integration, and laboratory system testing, have been conducted to ensure the platform's readiness, with most technical issues resolved. The TVU phase is scheduled to begin in September 2024.