Text by: Charmaine A. Lingdas
“Are you game to play a part in creating rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy and older adults with dementia?” asked College of Allied Medical Professions Former Dean Maria Eliza Ruiz Aguila during her presentation at the First Philippine Pharma Convention on February 15, 2024. She introduced “AXEL ( Augmented eXperience E-health Laboratory) Virtual Care: Alagang Pinoy sa Makabagong Panahon,” an innovative approach utilizing immersive gamification technology to address cognitive and motor disabilities in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) and dementia.
According to the World Health Organization, dementia encompasses a range of disorders causing memory loss, impaired reasoning, and difficulty with daily tasks, worsening over time. A 2021 study projected dementia cases in the Philippines to rise to 1,474,588 by 2030, 1,972,067 by 2040, and 2,529,436 by 2050, with an estimated incidence of 16 cases per 1,000 people. While more common among the elderly, not everyone will develop dementia.
Meanwhile, CP is a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitations that are attributed to non-progressive problems in the developing fetus or newborn brain. According to the Department of Health (DOH), CP affects an estimated one to two percent of the Filipino population or around one million people.
Virtual Reality (VR), as a supplemental therapy, has gained popularity among patients with CP and dementia. However, the development of such technologies in the Philippines has not been accelerated.
AXEL Virtual Care features tailored therapy activities, including “Mission to Planet Axel” for children with cerebral palsy and “Suroy-suroy” for older adults with dementia.
“With over 50 million people worldwide experiencing years of healthy life loss due to disabilities like Issa and Lolo Pepe (patient models), AXEL Virtual Care addresses a critical market need,” emphasized Prof. Aguila. The system aims to enhance activity and leg function in children with cerebral palsy and alleviate behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia patients.
During her presentation, Prof. Aguila elaborated on the distinctiveness of AXEL Virtual Care, emphasizing its customized approach and cultural relevance for Filipinos. She highlighted its user-friendly interface, which is both straightforward and captivating. Early testers described it as “fun and exciting, memorable, meaningful, and relaxing,” indicating its potential to enhance therapy sessions by making them more motivating and enjoyable.
As AXEL Virtual Care prepares to become a reality in clinics and patients’ homes, the AXEL team remains open to exploring collaboration, business models, and investment opportunities. The interdisciplinary AXEL team invites stakeholders to join as game changers.
The AXEL team is a diverse group including healthcare professionals, computer scientists, and game designers. Prof. Aguila and Dr. Veeda Michelle M. Anlacan, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Neurosciences, UP Manila College of Medicine (UPCM) are the lead investigators, while co-investigators include Dr. Michael L. Tee, Chancellor at UP Manila; Dr. Roland Dominic Jamora from Department of Neurosciences, UPCM; Bryan Andrei C. Galecio, University Researcher II at UP Manila; Isabel Teresa O. Salido, a Research Assistant at UP Manila; Dr. Cherica A. Tee from the Department of Pediatrics, UPCM; Dr. Jaime DL. Caro from the Department of Computer Science, UP Diliman; Angelo Cedric F. Panganiban and Josiah Cyrus R. Boque from Department of Computer Science, UP Diliman; and Florinda P. Concepcion, Project Development Officer at UP System Information Technology Foundation, Inc., UP Diliman.
AXEL Virtual Care is supported by the University of the Philippines (UP), Department of Science and Technology, Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), and the National Innovation Council.
