The evidence-based MindAhead app hits the market
Evidence-based therapy app supports people with memory problems and dementia in everyday life
MindAhead Active is the first evidence-based app on the market that supports people with early memory problems or early-stage dementia in their everyday lives. It was developed by psychiatrist, neuroscientist and psychologist Dr Patrick Fissler and digital health expert Nina Kiwit, who together founded MindAhead UG in Berlin. Their goal: a digital medical device that does not offer abstract exercises, but promotes real, everyday activities – and thus noticeably enriches the lives of those affected. The real benefits of this app have been proven by a study conducted by Göttingen University Medical Centre.
Real everyday activities instead of exercise sheets: what can MindAhead Active do?
The new app, which is also very easy for older people to use, accompanies its users in over 40 sessions as they select, implement and reflect on new activities. Instead of cognitive training, the focus is on enjoyment, exercise and social contact. For example, users discover new walking routes, become active again in clubs and among their friends, or try out creative activities such as writing various texts.
‘The app is designed to help people participate more in life again,’ explains Nina Kiwit, co-founder of the start-up MindAhead, in an interview with ‘Alzheimer Deutschland’: ‘It’s about those things that bring joy and have meaning – and that you actually do.’
Scientifically tested and certified: the benefits of the app have been proven in clinical studies
It is rare for a health app to not only have proven benefits, but also to be tested according to scientific standards. MindAhead Active is a CE-certified Class I medical device – and its effectiveness has been verified in a clinical study conducted by Göttingen University Hospital. The study showed that the app offers multiple benefits compared to standard care: on average, participants implemented 24 new activities within three months, their quality of life improved significantly and depressive symptoms also decreased noticeably.
‘Our study has shown that the app actually makes everyday life more colourful and lively,’ explains neuroscientist and psychologist Dr Patrick Fissler, co-founder of MindAhead UG, who conducts research at the Psychiatric Services Thurgau (Spital Thurgau AG) in Switzerland: ‘And that’s not only good for your mood, but also for your memory.’
The new app for memory: new paths and a new zest for life
The feedback from the first users speaks for itself. ‘I’ve learned which activities are really good for me – and that I can actually do them,’ reports one participant. Another user says: “I used to walk the same route every day. Now I try out new routes and discover corners of my village that I’ve never seen before.‘
Doctors are also convinced. ’Many colleagues are frustrated because they can recommend activity, but their patients don’t receive any concrete support in implementing it,‘ says Dr Fissler. ’Now, with our app, there is finally a tool that closes this gap.”
Price and access: One-time cost of £99, no subscription, no commitment.
Access to all 40 sessions costs a one-time fee of £99 – no subscription and no hidden costs. Compared to a traditional therapy session, this is extremely affordable: a single session with a therapist often costs as much as the entire programme.
‘It was important to us that the app was not only effective, but also accessible to many people,’ says Nina Kiwit. ‘MindAhead Active’ is not just a high-tech product, but a tool that really helps in everyday life.”
MindAhead: A new step towards a more vibrant future for many affected individuals
The MindAhead Active app is now available (September 2025) as a digital, everyday, scientifically proven complementary therapy that actively enriches the daily lives of those affected. It gives people with early memory problems and incipient dementia new opportunities to do something for their own well-being – and it also gives their relatives the confidence that their loved ones can bring more joy and structure into their lives.
This makes the app much more than just a digital tool: MindAhead Active is a catalyst for more activity, a better quality of life and a piece of lost normality – right in the middle of everyday life. More detailed information and direct access to the app can be found directly at MindAhead at https://mindahead.de(https://mindahead.info).
