Brain and Nerve最新文献

This paper provides an overview of the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in research on neurological and psychiatric disorders both in Japan and abroad, with a focus on drug discovery, clinical support, and functional rehabilitation. Although Japan's fundamental research meets global standards, its regulatory frameworks and social implementation lag behind those of Western countries. To maintain international competitiveness, it is essential to implement policies that promote health insurance reform, strengthen industry-academia collaboration, and foster the practical deployment of ICT innovations.

Digital medicine is a field with a huge global market growth rate and is expected to become a game changer as a new modality for addressing medical and social issues. The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) will continue to provide support, not only for the creation of innovation but also for the commercialization of innovative medical devices through on-site introduction, with the aim of further developing the medical device industry in Japan.

The digital biomarkers that have emerged from advances in digital technologies are expected to transform diagnostics and monitoring in the fields of neurology and psychiatry. Applications are being explored in various contexts, such as motor assessments in neurodegenerative diseases and behavioral tracking in psychiatric disorders. Moreover, digital biomarkers have already been used as endpoints in clinical trials. Combining these objective digital measures with conventional clinical assessments is likely to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of patients.

Digital solutions used in medicine and healthcare can be broadly classified into three categories: digital health, digital medicine, and digital therapeutics (DTx). Recently, with the advent of programmed medical devices (SaMD), digital medicine and DTx have been increasingly introduced in clinical settings. In this article, I define digital medicine as well as the challenges in its implementation and future prospects.

This article provides an overview of digital interventions for alcohol-related problems, ranging from hazardous and harmful drinking to alcohol use disorder and dependence. When examining the evidence from randomized controlled trials, it is clear that the efficacy of digital interventions has been sufficiently demonstrated. However, questions remain whether this efficacy reaches individuals with alcohol-related problems. Proving their effectiveness and achieving an impact in real-world settings are likely to be the highest-priority challenges.

Digital therapeutics (DTx) for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have emerged as a complementary option to psychosocial interventions. This review focuses on the prescription if video-game therapy EndeavorRx (commercially known as EndeavorRide in Japan), the first game-based DTx approved by the FDA and domestically, and surveys the global development landscape of competing adaptive learning apps and other DTx modalities. We also discuss clinical trial outcomes, effect sizes, safety profiles, and future prospects and explore the potential of personalized DTx approaches.

This review outlines the recent advances in the use of digital health technologies (DHTs) for remote symptom monitoring and home-based management of Parkinson's disease (PD). In the adoption of telemedicine, wearable sensors for daily activity tracking, artificial intelligence-driven analysis, and digital rehabilitation have accelerated the shift toward more personalized and efficient care. These digital approaches offer objective, continuous, and scalable assessment methods that complement the traditional face-to-face evaluations. Notably, they provide valuable tools for addressing fluctuations in symptoms and supporting patient self-management. Their integration with conventional care models is progressing, and pilot implementations have attained promising results in reducing patient burden, improving accessibility, and enhancing quality of life. Furthermore, evidence from large-scale remote trials and real-world observational studies further supports the clinical utility of these technologies. As healthcare systems worldwide adapt to aging populations and the increasing demand for chronic disease management, DHT-based approaches are expected to play an increasingly central role in PD care. This session highlights the key findings from recent initiatives, including our own clinical experiences with hybrid platforms that combine wearable devices, telemedicine, and patient-reported outcomes.

Medical healthcare for cerebrovascular disorders faces challenges at each stage of the patient journey, from prevention to early detection, treatment, rehabilitation, and home care. These challenges include a lack of expert personnel, lack of accuracy due to empirical knowledge and qualitative judgment, and assurance of the quality of care at home. This article highlights that digital technologies such as wearable sensors, artificial intelligence, digital twins, and smartphone apps can aid in solving these problems.

Although 20-30% of cancer patients experience depression and anxiety and require therapeutic intervention, the availability of mental health specialists in oncology settings remains limited. This makes it difficult to provide individualized, specialized care. To address this gap, we developed a smartphone-based psychotherapeutic intervention tool, which was shown in a randomized controlled trial to effectively reduce the fear of cancer recurrence among survivors of breast cancer. Building on these results, we are now expanding our efforts to explore broader applications of smartphone-delivered psychotherapy in the field of psycho-oncology.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to be utilized in the medical field for diagnostic support, prognostic prediction, and improving the efficiency of operations in healthcare settings. However, ethical challenges such as the opacity of decision-making, explainability, and equitable access have been identified as key limitations to the widespread adoption of AI in healthcare. As medical AI influences the doctor-patient relationship and the nature of healthcare, discussions and collaborations that incorporate the perspectives of various stakeholders are required.