#Japan #Tokyo #NTT DOCOMO #WizWe #PHR

Introduction

In a significant move towards addressing societal health challenges, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan has approved a project aimed at promoting service development utilizing advanced technologies in the preventative health and wellness field for fiscal year 2024. This initiative, known as the Accelerated Development Project for Solutions Addressing Social Issues by Utilizing Advanced Technologies in the Health and Wellness Sector, has accepted WizWe Inc. and NTT Docomo Business as participants in the creation of use cases.

Collaborative Efforts

WizWe, renowned for developing and operating the habit-forming platform "Smart Habit", and NTT Docomo Business, a major player in PHR services, have joined forces. Together, they will introduce a practical demonstration of a service designed to support the maintenance of cognitive function and the fostering of healthy lifestyle habits among the elderly. This new service, named "MemoLink", will utilize the LINE messaging platform to facilitate interaction and support for the elderly.

Context of the Project

As Japan faces a rapidly declining birthrate and an aging population, the need for innovative health services leveraging personal health records (PHR) has never been more pressing. In recent years, a diverse range of services using PHR data from health check-ups and wearable devices have emerged, emphasizing lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and sleep.
The government's commitment to this cause is evidenced by the establishment of a Healthcare Digital Transformation Promotion Headquarters led by the Prime Minister, aiming to realize effective measures incorporating PHR utilization. Furthermore, the Basic Policy for Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform 2024 indicates a clear intent to explore PHR's role in conjunction with medical and nursing care sectors.

Key Objectives

With the growing number of individuals requiring nursing care, addressing the rising costs associated with long-term care and the productivity decreases tied to dual roles in work and caregiving is critical. This project aims to capitalize on PHR data to deliver personalized preventative care services, thereby enhancing both quality of life and health outcomes for seniors.

Detailed Overview of the Demonstration

The practical demonstration will leverage LINE, providing a health support service to assist in maintaining cognitive function and fostering healthy lifestyles. The service will utilize data recorded in the recently updated "Kenko Mileage" application, which tracks physical activities, sleep data, and frailty scores. Dedicated habit support mentors will communicate personalized encouragement and brain health maintenance tips directly through LINE.
As interactions are accumulated, this data will be shared with participating care facilities, enhancing daily digital support while facilitating a cohesive care approach for cognitive function preservation and prevention of nursing care needs.

Innovative Communication Approach

The use of LINE as a communication channel, a platform widely adopted by seniors, will allow a seamless digital intervention experience for users. The design allows users to collect health data effortlessly as they go about their daily lives, thus promoting tailored advice for improving health conditions.
The bi-directional support facilitated through integrated PHR data aims to encourage continued engagement in cognitive maintenance behaviors and prevent deterioration in mental health, all while utilizing medically verified methods. These efforts are anticipated to contribute significantly to promoting preventive care measures and reducing the burden on caregiving sectors.

Target Groups

The pilot program will serve three specific facilities:
1. Memory Clinic Ochanomizu for patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
2. Kitahara Total Life Support Club for members
3. Irodori no Oka for users

Goals

• - Sustained engagement in cognitive maintenance activities and preventive behaviors regarding physical health (e.g., exercise and sleep management).

Core Initiatives

• - Record activities aimed at maintaining cognitive function through the app, tracking step counts and sleep hours.
• - Evaluating frailty scores for tailored support measures.
• - Daily supportive messaging from dedicated habit mentors.
• - Interactive consultations regarding dementia prevention with "Dr. Asada AI".

Roles of Each Partner

• - WizWe: Designing and operating chat support aligned with users' physical activity and health conditions through LINE, utilizing PHR data provided by NTT Docomo Business.
• - NTT Docomo Business: Supplying PHR data such as step counts, sleep data, and frailty scores recorded in the "Kenko Mileage" platform.

Future Directions

This initiative aims to be a model for promoting digital and AI utilization among the elderly while mitigating the digital divide. Building on the outcomes of this project, it seeks to implement further social applications and develop additional supportive measures nationwide.

Conclusion

By leveraging advanced technology and fostering collaborations between Kay Weave and NTT Docomo, Japan is setting a precedent for health innovation that addresses the pressing challenges posed by an aging population. This project stands to positively impact the well-being of many elderly individuals, providing the necessary support to maintain their cognitive health and overall quality of life.