HippoCamera App for Memory in Down Syndrome

Overseen By Jaclyn Ford, PhD

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Boston College

Disqualifiers: Autism, Non-native English, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 12

40 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new smartphone app called HippoCamera to determine if it can help people with Down syndrome remember specific events better. The app allows users to record and replay important parts of their daily lives, potentially improving memory and reducing anxiety. Ideal candidates for this trial are people with Down syndrome who have a smartphone and can use the app with some assistance. As an unphased trial, participants contribute to innovative research that could enhance daily living for individuals with Down syndrome.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that the HippoCamera app is safe for individuals with Down syndrome?

Research has shown that the HippoCamera app has been used in other studies with people who have memory problems, demonstrating promise in improving memory recall without serious side effects. The app allows users to record and replay daily events, enhancing their ability to remember specific details.

This study tests the HippoCamera app specifically for people with Down syndrome to address common memory issues in this group. As a digital and non-invasive tool, it does not involve surgery or medical procedures and is generally considered safe. Users have not reported major negative effects, indicating it is well-tolerated.

It is important to note that the HippoCamera app is not a drug or surgical treatment. It is a smartphone app designed to aid memory through practice and repetition, resulting in minimal safety concerns compared to traditional medical treatments. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the HippoCamera app for enhancing memory in individuals with Down syndrome because it offers a novel, tech-driven approach that differs from traditional therapies like cognitive training or medication. Unlike standard methods, HippoCamera allows users to actively engage with their daily experiences by recording and replaying important events, which encourages memory-focused practices. This approach leverages principles from psychology and neuroscience, potentially leading to improved memory retention and focus, making it a promising tool for cognitive support.

What evidence suggests that the HippoCamera app is effective for enhancing memory in individuals with Down syndrome?

Research shows that the HippoCamera app enhances memory by allowing users to record and replay their daily activities. This method employs proven techniques to boost and maintain memory over time. Studies have found that HippoCamera improves memory for specific events in individuals with memory problems, particularly those with hippocampal issues, a brain region essential for memory. In this trial, participants in the Immediate Intervention group will practice daily with the HippoCamera app, while those in the Delayed Intervention group will start using the app after an initial 12-week period. Although the app has not been tested specifically in individuals with Down syndrome, its success in similar conditions suggests it might improve personal memory in this population. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for teens and young adults with Down Syndrome who experience memory challenges. Participants should be comfortable using a smartphone application as part of the study. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided, but typically these would include age range and cognitive ability to engage with the app.

Inclusion Criteria

Daily access to a smart phone

Informed consent obtained from parent or guardian (or participant, if legally independent)

Informed verbal assent obtained from participant

Exclusion Criteria

Autism

I learned English after turning 5 years old.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Immediate Intervention

Participants in the Immediate Intervention group engage in daily practice with the HippoCamera app for 12 weeks

12 weeks

Daily virtual engagement

Delayed Intervention

Participants in the Delayed Intervention group serve as a control for 12 weeks, then begin daily engagement with the HippoCamera app

12 weeks

Daily virtual engagement after initial 12 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for memory specificity and independence after the intervention

6 weeks

Follow-up appointment

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• HippoCamera

Trial Overview The study tests a smartphone app called HippoCamera designed to improve specific autobiographical memory in individuals with Down Syndrome by having them record and replay daily events. The app uses an algorithm intended to help consolidate memories over time.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Immediate intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

During the first 12 weeks following enrollment, the Immediate Intervention group will engage in daily practice with the HippoCamera app. HippoCamera is a smartphone application that allows participants to record and replay important events in their daily lives. Based on principles from psychology and neuroscience, engaging in this daily practice may increase focus on memory-orientated practices in participants.

Group II: Delayed Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

During the first 12 weeks following enrollment, the Delayed Intervention group will serve as a control, receiving no intervention. After the initial 12 weeks, they will be entered into daily engagement with the HippoCamera app.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Boston College

Lead Sponsor

Trials

40

Recruited

49,300+

Massachusetts General Hospital

Collaborator

Trials

3,066

Recruited

13,430,000+

University of Colorado, Denver

Collaborator

Trials

1,842

Recruited

3,028,000+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07008989

A VIRTUAL Three-month Intervention Study of the Effects ... To test the efficacy of HippoCamera in enhancing replayed memories, the current study compares memory for replayed and not replayed events in a sample of 40 ...

2. hippocamera.com hippocamera.com/

HippoCamera - Record. Replay. Remember. HippoCamera guides you to record and replay daily events using science-backed memory strategies that help strengthen and preserve recall over time.

3. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-hippocamera-5-2025-d11db

HippoCamera App for Memory in Down Syndrome This trial is for teens and young adults with Down Syndrome who experience memory challenges. Participants should be comfortable using a smartphone application ...

4. ds-connect.org ds-connect.org/now-recruiting/improving-memory-teens-and-young-adults-down-syndrome

Improving Memory in Teens and Young Adults with Down ... This is a VIRTUAL three-month intervention study of the effects of a smartphone application (HippoCamera) on personal event memory in teens ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9907156/

A smartphone intervention that enhances real-world memory ... Overall, these data indicate that using HippoCamera selectively enhanced recall of event-specific episodic information. Lastly, we analyzed the number of in ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9085977/

Impact of Increased APP Gene Dose in Down Syndrome and ... APP products were increased in the Dp16 model; increased APP gene dose was necessary for loss of vulnerable neurons, tau pathology, and activation of ...

7. direct.mit.edu direct.mit.edu/jocn/article/35/10/1635/117066/Sleep-Differentially-and-Profoundly-Impairs-Recall

Sleep Differentially and Profoundly Impairs Recall Memory ... One explanation for a sleep impairment could be that in children with Down syndrome, the hippocampal system replays incorrect or nonspecific ...

8. tacticahealth.com tacticahealth.com/our-work/hippocamera-memory-science-app/

HippoCamera - Health, Research - Android app, iOS ... HippoCamera is an evidence-based mobile app that improves recall in people with mild cognitive impairment using principles from memory science.