초록이

Early-stage dementia is rising quickly in South Korea, but not many people get checked early. This is because they don't know much about it, and going to the hospital for tests feels hard and inconvenient. Many people in their 40s to 60s think memory problems are just part of getting older or menopause, so they delay seeing a doctor.

How can we create an accessible digital tool for early-stage dementia screening?

We started with a literature review on early-stage dementia and existing cognitive screening tools, followed by interviews with care workers to understand user needs and barriers to screening. Thematic analysis of the data revealed low awareness of early-stage dementia symptoms, difficulties in accessing screening services, and a lack of systematic support. Based on these insights, we developed the application concept by creating personas, a service blueprint, and “How Might We” questions. The final result was 초록이, a mobile app designed to support early screening of dementia by offering a digitized MMSE-K test, intuitive result displays, and caregiver-sharing features. It could further reduce the burden of hospital appointments and accessing professional care by streamlining booking and providing a pre-visit checklist.