Digital Dementia Library: Knowledge for a better life in Bavaria!

Digital Dementia Library: Knowledge for a better life in Bavaria!

On May 20, 2025, the digiDEM Bavaria Dementia Library® a significant step towards improving health literacy for people with dementia and their relatives. The aim of this initiative is to promote information about dementia risks and to improve the care situation. The library is aimed not only at patients with mild cognitive impairments, but also at caring relatives, specialists, volunteers, decision-makers in the healthcare system and generally interested citizens.

The digiDEM Bavaria Dementia Library® offers a variety of offerings, including practical everyday tips, the latest scientific findings, current news from science and research as well as recorded webinars with experts. The content is selected and prepared by the project's scientists, with the focus being on access to specialized knowledge regardless of previous knowledge or professional background. These measures are intended, among other things, to promote understanding of the disease dementia and to take preventative measures to reduce risks.

Digital support offers and research

The digiDEM Bavaria research project aims to improve the living conditions of people with dementia. A core component is the largest dementia register in Germany, which has reached a record level with 1,500 study participants. Participation in dementia screening days in rural regions and the possibility of free on-site memory performance tests are intended to promote early detection of the disease.

Neurologist Prof. Dr. Peter Kolominsky-Rabas, who leads the project, emphasizes the great response to the screening days. Those involved can provide anonymized health data as part of a “data donation”. Bavaria's Health and Care Minister Klaus Holetschek praised the commitment of digiDEM Bayern and emphasized the importance of the digital dementia register. The project's other digital offerings include an online questionnaire to assess cognitive decline processes and various live webinars.

Prevention and digital technologies

The relevance of preventative measures is also emphasized in research on Alzheimer's disease. It is noted that maintaining cognitive functions is crucial. Digital technologies such as smartphone and tablet apps can help promote health literacy and address the challenges of caring for patients with cognitive impairments. These technologies are capable of measuring cognitive function and supporting lifestyle changes to reduce risk factors.

In addition, the ability to diagnose mild cognitive disorders should be improved to enable early interventions. It is recommended that cognitive testing be relocated to the home environment to ensure a more accurate assessment of cognitive function. However, positive effects of these interventions need to be clinically validated to secure potential reimbursement.

Promoting cognitive health and minimizing iatrogenic risks are the focus of digital measures. It is particularly important that digital technologies can be personalized and are closely linked to the electronic patient file in order to ensure individual care.

Initiatives such as the digiDEM Bavaria Dementia Library® are crucial steps to increase awareness and prevention of dementia. This combination of research, education and digital support could lead to a long-term improvement in the quality of life of people with dementia and their relatives.