A VIRTUAL Three-month Intervention Study of the Effects of a Smartphone Application (HippoCamera) on Memory in Teens and Young Adults With Down Syndrome

Launched by BOSTON COLLEGE · Jun 5, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring whether a smartphone app called HippoCamera can help improve memory in teens and young adults with Down syndrome. People with Down syndrome often have trouble remembering specific details from their past experiences, which can make it harder for them to become more independent and can contribute to feelings of anxiety and depression. By using the HippoCamera app, participants will record and replay important events from their daily lives. The app is designed to help them focus on specific memories rather than just general feelings about those events, which may lead to better memory recall.

To participate in the study, individuals must have a diagnosis of Down syndrome, be between the ages of 15 and 35, and have access to a smartphone. They should be able to use the app with some help from a family member or guardian. It’s important that participants can understand instructions and communicate in English. The study is currently looking for volunteers from all backgrounds. Those who join can expect to use the app over a three-month period to help enhance their memory skills. This could be a great opportunity for individuals with Down syndrome to gain better access to their personal memories and improve their everyday lives.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Diagnosis of Down syndrome
• • Daily access to a smart phone
• • The ability to create and replay memories using HippoCamera with limited support from a guardian
• • Informed consent obtained from parent or guardian (or participant, if legally independent)
• • Informed verbal assent obtained from participant
• • Ability to comprehend instructions, denoted by parent/guardian acknowledgment
• • English as a primary written and spoken language
• • Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing
• • All races/ethnicities and socio-economic statuses
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Autism
• • Non-native speaker of English (acquired after the age of 5)