When someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, intervention is actually already too late. What if an early memory test could identify the risk of dementia? That's exactly what the Seattle-Groningen Memory Assessment (SGMA) from Precision Cognition Labs makes possible. With this digital memory test, the company is the eighth finalist for the National Care Innovation Award.
About 1 in 5 people will experience dementia, with Alzheimer's being the cause in about seventy percent of cases. The disease often develops unnoticed for years. By the time it is diagnosed, significant damage to the brain has usually already occurred.
"Then you don't actually need to do a test already. For capturing the diagnosis it is useful, but you are already too late to do anything about it," said Hedderik van Rijn, professor of cognitive science and neuroscience at the University of Groningen and co-founder of Precision Cognition Labs.
Digital memory test
The company therefore developed the Seattle-Groningen Memory Assessment (SGMA): a digital memory test that provides an accessible, reliable and repeatable way to screen memory capacity over time.
This works through an adaptive learning system with an algorithm. " For example, the test lets users learn facts about topics of their choice, such as dog breeds, constellations or types of pasta. As people absorb new information, the algorithm analyzes how quickly they learn and how quickly they forget that knowledge again," Van Rijn says.
Also read: Jet Bussemaker advocates flipping the healthcare system: 'Real change comes from the bottom up'
Early intervention
The results then provide an accurate estimate of how a person's memory compares to what you might expect at a certain age.
According to Van Rijn, this is where an important key lies in the fight against Alzheimer's. "It doesn't look like we will get drugs that will bring someone with Alzheimer's back to the memory of a 30-year-old," he says. "What we can do is slow the decline. But then you have to start medication and lifestyle interventions as early as possible."
Profit for patients and healthcare
Being able to intervene early means more gains in multiple areas of health. Van Rijn: "For patients, it means a better quality of life and for healthcare, it can save a lot of costs."
Studies by Precision Cognition Labs show that the test has about 85 percent agreement with what three neurologists conclude after two full days of neuropsychological testing in the hospital.
By the way, Van Rijn emphasizes that not all hospital-based testing is becoming an unnecessary luxury. "We only measure memory. Broader tests are still needed to rule out attention disorders, for example."
Testing is not bullying
According to Van Rijn, this test is fundamentally different from traditional memory tests. "It is often said: testing is bullying. You are often judged on what you don't remember. We turn that around. Instead, we look at how well someone can still learn."
Even if your memory is pretty poor, the adaptive test is set up so that you always get between 80 and 90 percent correct. "It's almost like a computer game where you have a harder level each time, and those levels are made so that sometimes you fail, but usually make it through. That gives a good feeling. The moment you make something too easy, it's dead boring. The moment it's too difficult, people stop playing it, too."
In addition, it is currently the only memory test you could basically do every day, without the so-called re-test effect. Van Rijn: "Many existing tests, if you do it again a year later, you score better on it because you've done it once before. The SGMA test offers a different subject of your choice each time. Just a subject you can learn something about."
Also read: Meet the professional jury of the National Care Innovation Award 2026
Tip for other healthcare entrepreneurs
The implementation of new healthcare technology does not always go over roses, according to Van Rijn. "Healthcare is more conservative than you think beforehand. People are used to doing things the way they've always done them."
So for other healthcare innovators, he has a clear message: "You have to be a race optimist. Out of the twenty leads you have, with luck one will become an unpaid pilot. You encounter many challenges along the way. But if you keep going, you can really make a change. Make sure you have a strong team you can fall back on."
About the National Care Innovation Award
In 2026,Zorginnovatie.nlwill award the National Healthcare Innovation Prize for the eleventh time for the most innovative healthcare innovation in the scale-up phase. Participants have a chance to win the professional jury prize worth €10,000 and the public prize worth €5,000. They will also receive guidance in the further (further) development of their innovation.
Precision Cognition Labs is in the finals of the National Healthcare Innovation Award 2026 during theHealth Valley Eventon March 12, 2026 in Nijmegen. The presentation of thenational professional jury awardand audience award will be duringZorg & icton April 15 at Jaarbeurs Utrecht. None other thanJet Bussemakerwill present the prize to the lucky winners.
