Digital Therapeutics for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases: Current Trends and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), which are characterized by the accumulation of misfolded protein aggregates and cognitive/motor dysfunction, are the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). Despite strategic investigations aimed at augmenting the pharmaceutical pipeline, available drugs for AD and PD merely slow disease progression without curing or treating the underlying pathology. Recent technological advances have given rise to digital therapeutics (DTx): software systems that aim to prevent, cure, and manage specific diseases, including NDDs. For AD and PD, the majority of DTx focus on enhancing cognitive/executive function and motor-related functions, respectively. In this review, we describe the status of therapeutic development for AD and PD, as well as the characteristics and status of DTx targeting these NDDs. In addition, we address the limitations and challenges of DTx and their implications for the treatment of AD and PD. Ultimately, this review provides insights into the potential of DTx as a therapeutic modality and future directions for the development of DTx targeting AD and PD.