Digital therapeutics is a fast growing area of digital medicine. In this presentation, Vice President of the International Society of Digital Medicine (ISDM), David Wortley, sets out the current challenges to global health sustainability and the importance of shifting the focus from cure to prevention, especially in the use of digital technologies for personal health management and therapeutics. The presentation includes examples of digital therapeutic applications for neuro- rehabilitation, gamified exercise using consumer VR devices and support for dementia sufferers through digital memories. The presentation was delivered at the new Faculty for Health and Social Sciences at Bournemouth University.

1. Digital Therapeutics
and Immersive Technologies
David Wortley FRSA
VP International Society of Digital Medicine

2. What are Digital Therapeutics?
Definitions
HEALTH : “a person's mental or physical condition.”
MEDICINE : “the science or practice of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease”
THERAPEUTICS : “the branch of medicine concerned with the treatment of disease and the action of remedial
agents.”
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DIGITAL HEALTH : “Technologies designed to measure mental or physical condition”
DIGITAL MEDICINE : “Technologies designed to diagnose, treat and/or prevent disease”
DIGITAL THERAPEUTICS : “Technologies designed to treat and/or mitigate the effects of bad physical or mental
health”

3. Digital Therapeutics in Practice
Mental Health & Wellbeing Physical Health & Wellbeing

4. The Ageing Society Challenge

5. The Ageing Society Challenge

6. Supporting the Retired Population

7. The Ageing Society Challenge

8. The Ageing Society Challenges
We are living longer
We need more medical care as we age
There are fewer working people to cover the costs
Society is changing exponentially with greater social
mobility and globalisation
Social care is a poor relation of public health
services
Coronavirus has exposed our vulnerability to
unsustainable public health services

9. The Choices
Clinical Cures – vaccines or drugs
Legislation – carrot & stick
approach to behaviour change
Personal Health Management –
accepting responsibility

10. The Paradoxical Impact of Technology
“Technology is a
wonderful tool to
empower you to manage
your own health better –
it can give you the chance
to live a longer, healthier
life”
“Don’t worry – technology
will sort out all of your
health problems – there
will be a cure for
everything – carry on
enjoying your life”

11. The Paradoxical Locus of Control
Technology is very empowering and accessible 24x7 BUT….
it simultaneously makes us increasingly dependent on outside forces

12. It’s quite clear that the best chance we have for increasing our life spans and overall
improving our health is to adjust our personal behaviours and to do so at an early age.
Transition from Cure to Prevention

13. THE CHALLENGE
How can we influence lifestyle behaviours and
circumstances at an individual level at scale?

14. PERSONALISED, GAMIFIED & VALIDATED
BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE

15. THE KEY HEALTH & WELLBEING INFLUENCERS
1. Diet
2. Exercise
3. Hydration
4. Sleep
5. Mindfulness & Stress Management
6. Social Support

16. The Steps
Measure key influencers
Create personal benchmarks
Set achievable goals
Build a supporting environment
Provide digital therapies
Encourage personal responsibility

17. THE PERSONALISED, GAMIFIED &
VALIDATED HEALTH ECOSYSTEM
Personalised
Preventative
Healthcare
Services Hub
Diagnostics
Solutions
Benchmarking
Solutions
Intervention
Solutions
Health &
Wellbeing
Service
Providers

18. Digital Medicine and Digital Therapeutics
Technologies influencing behaviours
& informed health decisions
Technologies delivering therapies
as alternatives to drugs

19. DIGITAL THERAPEUTICS
LIFE AFTER COVID-19
What Happens Now?

20. Digital Therapeutics for Active Ageing

21. Digital Therapeutics for Active Ageing

22. Digital Therapeutics for Active Ageing

23. Digital Therapeutics for Active Ageing

24. 360in360 Living Memorials

25. 360in360 Living Memorials

26. Alcove VR

27. Alcove VR

28. Digital Therapeutics for Older Citizens
Solutions for both physical and mental health
Solutions must be “plug and play”
Combine realistic challenges with fun
Connect and engage with family & community
Provide feedback and diagnostics for both motivation
and health tracking
Give users control over their own health

29. Changing our Perceptions
We need to think of the elderly as an asset not a liability

30. A Final Thought
Eric’s Old Daily Drug Regime
Eric’s New End of Life
Daily Drug Regime

31. Digital Therapeutics
and Immersive Technologies
David Wortley FRSA
VP International Society of Digital Medicine