Mental health aims is an Indian trademark company specializing in
Neuro-diagnostics, and Neuro-rehabilitation.
The company has a strong clinical and research background in neurological disabilities and have developed dedicated diagnostic tool for memory and cognitive impairment - "UMACE"(Universal Memory And Cognitive Exam). The "UMACE" research has been awarded research funding from "Capacity Australia", Sydney.
Varied research papers are presented in International conferences regarding the Neuro-diagnostics and Neuro-rehabilitation by the proprietor and founder of the company.
Universal Memory And Cognitive Exam (UMACE) a diagnostic tool for Memory and Cognitive impairment
Background
With a growing concern regarding an increase in the number of people affected by Alzheimer’s & Dementia in India with an alarming10 million + patients by the year 2020. There is an estimated 46.8 million people worldwide living with dementia in 2015 and this number will almost be doubled every 20 years, reaching 74.7 million in 2030 and 131.5 million in 2050.
The development of UMACE started in June 2011 when it raised the need for an instrument that could be used to detect cognitive impairments in the illiterate population while developing a technology based therapy for dementia. The therapy research work was carried out using available MMSE test with minimal number of participants and the research paper titled: “Cohesion of Cognitive and Technological inference for treating Dementia” was presented in - The Fifth International congress of the Asian Society Against Dementia, Jointly organized by - Asian Society against Dementia, The Chinese Dementia Research Association, The Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists— Hong Kong, Nov. 2011
UMACE (Universal Memory and Cognitive Exam) has been tested on more than 350 samples comprising normal (literate and illiterate), psychiatric and neurological patients rendering substantial quantitative and qualitative data. This project concluded in mid-2014 and was accomplished in three phases.
* First phase – Development of items with a diagnostic tool kit with verbal and non-verbal tasks with the statistical assessment for tool validity, comparing UMACE with MMSE with two Normal sample groups (Literate and Illiterate N=78).
The research paper based on these studies was presented in Australia 2012. Title - “Using a Multicultural Model to develop an Universal Diagnostic Tool for Cognitive and Memory Impairments” International Psychogeriatric Association International Meeting, Cairns, Australia, 7-11 September, 2012
* Second phase - The UMACE testing was performed for a group of 35 male and female patients with varied psychiatric disorders in private psychiatric clinics using the original UMACE item structure and was compared with MMSE with a group of 35 male and female Normal population (N=70)
* Third phase - In the third phase different neurological disorder groups were administered in a private neurology clinic (total 7 groups- Vertigo, Migraine with and without aura, Epilepsy & Seizure disorder, Stroke, Parkinson, Brain diseases, Other neurological disorders) for 205 neurological disorder patients. This study excluded the patients previously diagnosed with Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
The additional test assessment functions are added in the third phase to assess the patients with Stroke or similar disorder having disabilities in speech and motor coordination.
The above mentioned UMACE diagnostic tool research work has been carried out by the researcher through her own expenses owing to the lack of funding opportunities in India for this particular venture. At the final stage the researcher was awarded AUD 3500, through “Capacity Australia”, an NGO run by experienced and eminent psychogeriatricians in Sydney, Australia. Through these funds, she was able to complete statistical procedure and research documentation with the help of two Australian authors in 2015.
The current UMACE diagnostic tool is suitable to assess all people having no cut off criteria based on education or disability, except for the visually impaired and persons having an IQ below 70.
UMACE – Statistical analysis combining three research phases
Statistical analysis: ROC curve analysis assessed the utility of 12 item UMACE as a cognitive screen compared with the 11 item MMSE.
Results: The UMACE demonstrated utility in the detection of cognitive impairment in all samples. In the largest sample (including 20% illiterate subjects) a cut-off of 28.5 out of 40 had an AUC 92.5% (95% CI 88.9% to 96.2%),a sensitivity of 89.7% and specificity of 77.0%.
In 2015 the existing UMACE diagnostic tool was improved to analyze memory and cognitive impairment of the visually impaired population named as UMACE-VIP with added features which is applicable around the globe.
Main features of "UMACE" tool-
*Early detection for memory and cognitive impairment in adults above 18 years (the 18 years population includes persons with different neurological disabilities such as Migraine, Epilepsy, Post Trauma, Brain diseases, Drug addiction and persons attempted suicide)
*Neuropsychiatric evaluation for pre and post epileptic surgery for adult population above 18 years
*Some of the UMACE subtests are applicable for persons from the age of 15 years for pre and post neuropsychiatric evaluation
Based on the neuropsychological research and clinical work the company has developed brain exercises kit called "BrainNext".
Considering the utmost need for Neuro-rehabilitation for the neurologically disabled populations around the globe the “BrainNext” brain exercises kit has been developed comprising 18 sets with 500+ exercises.
This kit can be useful to detect subtle changes in children below 6 years ages as many mild cognitive dysfunctions are ignored that are observed to be severe as the age advances.
*Timely precautions could be taken with the help of “BrainNext” kit for normal children, ages below 5 years.
Dedicated work in Neuro-rehabilitation- "BrainNext"
The need for the development of the “BrainNext” brain exercise kit emerged from present limitations for cure of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and various forms of Dementia, developmental disorders in children and a variety of neurological disorders among all age groups.
Considering the neural complexities of brain functions it is desirable to nourish the human brain with continuous sensory input to keep the neurons as active as possible for the entire life span after the person has been diagnosed with certain neural disability.
The children who suffer from developmental disorders such as Autism spectrum, ADHD and various other clinically significant cognitive deficits regarding attention, general concentration and various degrees of mentally challenged population need
long term cognitive rehabilitation.
The “BrainNext” kit comprises total 18 sets and any single set can be purchased individually or can be purchased as a single unit of 18 sets together. The "BrainNext" catalogue has detailed product information, explaining various causes
behind developing brain disorders and can be purchased seperately.
The "BrainNext" neuro-rehabilitation design is based on the neuroscience concept of "Synaptic Plasticity".
"UMACE" and "BrainNext" are the copyright products of Mental Health Aims.
