Games for Empowerment, Not Entertainment: Technology for Memory-related Diseases
By: Jiyoo of KIS
SDGs: Good health and well being
Throughout the past year, Jiyoo has developed a mobile app that seeks to ameliorate memory-related diseases in innovative avenues. Her app is a game platform for the elderly or patients with dementia and other memory-related illnesses that supports cognitive health, emotional well-being, and social connection through engaging and meaningful gameplay. With the growing aging population worldwide, there is an increasing need for accessible, user-friendly tools that help seniors maintain mental sharpness, memory, and quality of life. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 57 million had dementia in 2021 and projects that around 130 million will suffer from memory-related diseases by 2050. Through entertaining and therapeutic game design that works to stimulate memory, Jiyoo’s app seeks to prevent illness and recover patients.
The app features a collection of games that activate different areas of the brain, including memory, attention, language, and problem-solving, inspired by research in cognitive rehabilitation. Many senior centers provide board games like Scrabble, Uno, Bingo, and chess, but few seniors engage in the online versions of these games–even the average player age for a dynamic online game like Candy Crush Saga is between 20 and 40 years old. Jiyoo’s app aims to target senior citizens and anyone who struggles to access the realm of mobile gameplay through accessible design and memory recovery. For example, the app is designed with the elderly user in mind: there are large buttons, clear fonts, repeated instructions, and calming color schemes. It avoids overwhelming clutter and provides intuitive navigation.
Furthermore, the layout of the gameplay improves user memory. Each game is developed from a user-based prompt and small descriptions about the user’s past experiences, with an AI-embedded backend that generates interactive interfaces. One game involves matching word pairs to strengthen memory recall, while another is navigating a short narrative adventure to enhance decision-making and comprehension.
These games can also be played individually or in multiplayer mode, where groups of players can adjust settings and engage in collaborative games. The settings are easily adjustable and accommodate users' needs throughout the experience to promote communication and help combat isolation—a major issue for many senior citizens. Ultimately, Jiyoo’s app aims not to entertain, but to empower. The app supports healthy aging by keeping the mind independent and active, offering a sense of purpose and accomplishment, and strengthening emotional and social bonds. Whether used independently or with caregivers, it provides a tool that bridges seniors with both their mental wellbeing and sense of community.
The app features a collection of games that activate different areas of the brain, including memory, attention, language, and problem-solving, inspired by research in cognitive rehabilitation. Many senior centers provide board games like Scrabble, Uno, Bingo, and chess, but few seniors engage in the online versions of these games–even the average player age for a dynamic online game like Candy Crush Saga is between 20 and 40 years old. Jiyoo’s app aims to target senior citizens and anyone who struggles to access the realm of mobile gameplay through accessible design and memory recovery. For example, the app is designed with the elderly user in mind: there are large buttons, clear fonts, repeated instructions, and calming color schemes. It avoids overwhelming clutter and provides intuitive navigation.
Furthermore, the layout of the gameplay improves user memory. Each game is developed from a user-based prompt and small descriptions about the user’s past experiences, with an AI-embedded backend that generates interactive interfaces. One game involves matching word pairs to strengthen memory recall, while another is navigating a short narrative adventure to enhance decision-making and comprehension.
These games can also be played individually or in multiplayer mode, where groups of players can adjust settings and engage in collaborative games. The settings are easily adjustable and accommodate users' needs throughout the experience to promote communication and help combat isolation—a major issue for many senior citizens. Ultimately, Jiyoo’s app aims not to entertain, but to empower. The app supports healthy aging by keeping the mind independent and active, offering a sense of purpose and accomplishment, and strengthening emotional and social bonds. Whether used independently or with caregivers, it provides a tool that bridges seniors with both their mental wellbeing and sense of community.