Digital memory app to help people with Down syndrome remember personal events
Use of a digital memory prosthetic to support autobiographical memory in down syndrome
This project uses a smartphone app called HippoCamera to help people with Down syndrome remember specific events from their lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chestnut Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169719 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would use a smartphone app called HippoCamera to record brief video or audio memories from your day and replay them later. The app uses a research-based algorithm to curate and optimize those replays to strengthen memory consolidation. Study staff will collect memory tests and other measures to see if regular use improves detailed autobiographical recall and related mood or independence. The work is led by researchers at Boston College and runs through mid-2026.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with Down syndrome who have difficulty recalling specific personal events and who can use a smartphone themselves or with caregiver help.
Not a fit: People without Down syndrome or those who cannot use a smartphone or have very severe cognitive, sensory, or motor impairments that prevent participation are unlikely to benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the app could help people with Down syndrome remember personal events more clearly, which may support greater independence and lower anxiety or depression.
How similar studies have performed: Related memory-support apps and replay-based approaches have shown promise in other groups, but applying HippoCamera specifically to people with Down syndrome is a new direction.
Where this research is happening
Chestnut Hill, United States
- Boston College — Chestnut Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ford, Jaclyn Hennessey — Boston College
- Study coordinator: Ford, Jaclyn Hennessey
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.