In her interview with AZERTAC, Aygun Badalova, a neuropsychologist and rising scientist in brain research**,** discussed her work on digital rehabilitation for Alzheimer's and dementia patients, her journey from Azerbaijan to the UK, and her social initiatives.

Highlighting her significant academic and professional journey in the field of cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology, she noted that her current doctoral research focuses on studying Alzheimer's disease in living brains and on digital rehabilitation approaches for dementia.

The scientist emphasizes that the scarcity of experts and resources in dementia care is a primary factor behind the substantial gap in the development and availability of effective digital therapies.

"Gotcha!", a name-recall therapy app developed by Aygun Badalova, has shown promise in tests with 48 early-stage dementia patients, positively impacting both behavior and brain activity. The app is designed to help users remember the names of their loved ones.

Aygun Badalova is also involved in clinical research at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London, working directly with patients with neurodegenerative diseases. She is also the founder of the Azerbaijan Alzheimer's Association, which is aimed at educating the public about Alzheimer's disease, providing psychological support to families, and eliminating existing stereotypes.

In her opinion, Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging, but a serious progressive neurological disease that requires early diagnosis and proper support. An active lifestyle, social connections, and mental engagement play a crucial role in maintaining brain health.

"Memory may weaken, but humanity remains. The most important thing is empathy and understanding," Aygun Badalova told AZERTAC readers.