چلچلی; Digital cognitive game with a focus on memory for adults and people over 60 years old

The risk of dementia increases with age, but it is not a normal part of aging. دمانس Dementia is a common term used to describe various psychological symptoms, such as forgetfulness. This complication is just one of the symptoms of several underlying brain diseases and disorders. Dementia is not a single disease, but a general term to describe the symptoms of impaired memory, communication, and thinking. This disorder is generally considered to be the same as Alzheimer’s, while Alzheimer’s is a subset of this syndrome. Also, between 60 and 80% of all dementia diagnoses end in Alzheimer’s (forgetfulness), and Alzheimer’s disease often occurs in people over 65 years of age. Startup Swallow is also a cognitive game based on everyday life skills that challenges memory. Due to their activities in the brain clinic and their direct cognition and communication with the middle-aged and elderly age group, the members of the Chelcheli team somehow touched the cognitive problems and challenges of this age group, which eventually led to this issue. Gather together and چلچلی To launch. Follow the conversation of Accomotive with the co-founder of this series:

Please tell us about your biography and career path:

My name is Farah Bekizadeh, I graduated from the University of Tehran with a master’s degree in clinical psychology. I am currently working as the co-founder of Startup Chelchelie and an education and research expert at the Brain and Cognition Clinic.

What is a swallow and how was it born?

Swallow is a cognitive mobile game for adults that offers a set of cognitive exercises aimed at improving memory in the context of a game. Chelcheli game has been implemented based on the native party scenario and in accordance with the culture of our country. On the other hand, considering that all members of the Chelcheli team have some experience in working with this age group in the field of rehabilitation, there was a need for a platform to improve people’s cognitive functions, especially in the field of memory. In addition, the increase in the elderly population and cognitive disorders such as dementia in this age group brought team members together to work in this field.

What are the members of the Chelchelli team?

Key members of the Chelcheli team are Dr. Mostafa Almasi, neurologist, faculty member of Iran University of Medical Sciences and director of the Department of Memory and Cognition Clinic, Pouria Akbari, graduate of Shahid Beheshti University with a degree in Cognitive Rehabilitation and cognitive rehabilitation therapist And Cognition and Sina Tavakoli, who has completed his master’s degree in Rehabilitation Management from Iran University of Medical Sciences and is in charge of managing the Brain and Cognition Clinic.

Who is the target community of Chelcheli?

The target population of the cell is people over 50 years old. This age is the average retirement time of people in Iran, in fact, when people leave their jobs and according to the calendar of social events, a series of activities that lead to an increase in their cognitive function reserves, decreases. On the other hand, during that time, gradually other people’s cognitive disorders start in a mild and serious way and show themselves in a serious way at the age of 60.

Has your concern or social responsibility required you to start this business?

Part of the team’s concern has been social responsibility. If you look at a variety of digital applications and platforms in all areas, you will find that most of them are tailored to the young age group, but the middle-aged and elderly have no share of digital technology. This issue is seen more prominently in our country, so more activity is needed from different groups in this field. As you know, this year the slogan of the World Day of the Elderly is the fair use of digital technologies for all ages, which warns the need for digital activists to pay attention to this age group.

Why do people suffer from memory impairment?

Memory impairment can affect people of all ages for a variety of reasons. Among the factors that can affect people’s memory are stroke, MS, stroke or mental disorders. It is also one of the diseases that gets serious with age Health Cognitive functions, such as memory, affect dementia, which includes Alzheimer’s disease, and according to statistics, one percent of people over the age of 65 develop Alzheimer’s.

What are cognitive functions?

Cognitive functions are a set of brain activities that are present in all of us from birth and grow over time. These brain activities include memory, attention, inhibition, problem solving, decision making, processing speed, and تمامی all of which empower our brain’s ability to regulate and manage a set of daily activities, learning, and other life tasks. سازد.

What is the importance of cognitive issues?

You depend on the cognitive functions of your brain to do your simplest tasks. If any of these cognitive functions are impaired, you will have trouble doing a variety of things throughout the day, including shopping, driving, learning, and connecting with friends. As a result, cognitive health is directly related to your quality of life.

What role do swallow games play in strengthening cognitive skills and improving brain function?

Swallow game is modeled on a set of valid clinical software and cognitive exercises, such as Rihakam, and in the first phase focuses on people’s memory. In fact, by providing exercises and challenges that it creates for the player in the game, it targets auditory, visual, face recognition, spatial, numerical, inhibition and decision-making memory.

What are the challenges facing society in relation to cognitive problems?

Perhaps the most important issue is the lack of sufficient knowledge and awareness of the general public about cognitive functions and the importance of paying attention to their cognitive health. In the first stage, as good information has been provided in the field of care and attention to blood sugar and blood pressure with age, it is necessary to give proper knowledge to the community about the importance of cognitive health. In my opinion, more knowledge than before should enter the community through the walls of the university and classrooms to increase public awareness in this area. Of course, it should be noted that in recent years, good measures have been taken by those in charge of this field.

Do you think content production in this area will help with these challenges?

Certainly, raising awareness and producing appropriate content for the middle-aged and elderly is the main and important step to prevent the cognitive challenges ahead at this age.

Has Chelchery done anything about content production to raise awareness?

One of the main activities of Chelcheli is holding age memory leagues for retirement offices of organizations, various organs and aging centers of the General Health Department of Tehran Municipality. At present, the Elderly Memory League is being held in cooperation with the Municipality of Tehran. Get acquainted (gain, obtain) with present-day techniques that came from Cognitive Functions.

How was the process of forming your team?

As I said, the members of the Chelchelie team work in the Brain and Cognition Clinic, and each of them is associated with the middle-aged and older age group, so they have touched closely on the cognitive challenges and issues facing this age group. The prevalence of coronation and the limitations of holding face-to-face rehabilitation programs brought us together to think of an online platform for providing cognitive training services, which eventually led to the mobile game Chelchelli with various sessions.

What tests has Chelchely taken to measure himself?

Our plan is to evaluate the effectiveness of Chelcheli game in promoting cognitive functions, and in this regard, a study has been defined under the supervision of Dr. Almasi at Iran University of Medical Sciences, which we are conducting and will publish the results soon.

Which collections have you supported so far?

We received support from a number of groups, such as the Cognitive Science and Technology Development Headquarters, Iran University of Medical Sciences, the University of Tehran, and the Tehran Municipality General Directorate of Health.

How many people have used your services to date?

So far, 1,450 people have installed the game and participated in the Swallow Memory League.

Does your product have a similar internal or external sample? What is the advantage of swallows over them?

We do not have similar internal and external examples in the field of cognitive games that are provided specifically for the elderly. There are several cognitive games on the market, but there was no room for cognitive exercises in the context of a game scenario without repetitive mini-games. More importantly, it is a matter of language and special design for the elderly that allows them to use. In addition, Chelchelli has modeled his design on credible clinical cognitive exercises, such as Rihakam.

What is your revenue model?

Chelchelie’s main source of income is holding leagues for the retirement offices of private and public organizations, as well as selling subscriptions to clinics, health centers and in-game sales are other ways to earn a living.

What is your vision for the future of Chelcheli?

We intend to turn Chelchelli into a comprehensive geriatric application that offers cognitive exercises in the playground, medical and psychiatric services for the elderly, creating an introduction network, discounting geriatric products, and creating a social network for the over 50 age group. Pay.

Finally, tell us an interesting memory of Chelcheli users:

One of our users who participated in the Tehran Elderly Memory League, when asked in one of the webinars for their opinion on how to improve the game and its use, replied: “Until today, no one played with us and for us “He did not make games, because we were seen and a program was made especially for us, especially in the field of games and entertainment.”

Therefore, we also hope that digital activists have a better view of the production of products for this age group, which is our capital.