Social Return on Investment (SROI) of the BrainTrack App for Monitoring Brain Health Among Older Australians

Timely diagnosis of dementia is critical, as early identification enables interventions that can meaningfully improve quality of life and support long-term planning for individuals and their families. Despite this, many Australians continue to receive a diagnosis at a late stage due to a range of personal, social, and structural barriers. BrainTrack, a freely available and evidence-based mobile application, was developed to help address this gap by supporting users to monitor their cognitive health and encouraging earlier engagement with healthcare professionals when concerns arise. This study sought to assess the broader social and economic value generated by BrainTrack. A Social Return on Investment (SROI) framework was employed to quantify the social outcomes associated with the app. Survey data collected 12 months after initial use captured five key outcomes: increased dementia literacy, enhanced dementia knowledge, reduced stigma, greater motivation to adopt cognitive health-promoting behaviours, and increased help-seeking intentions. Monetary values were assigned to each outcome to estimate the value created. Inputs included the resources invested in BrainTrack, such as initial development costs and ongoing maintenance. To determine the net impact, adjustments were made for deadweight, displacement, attribution, and drop-off prior to calculating the SROI ratio. Survey responses from 2,339 BrainTrack users informed the analysis. With an investment of AU$1.9 million over five years, the SROI analysis estimated a social return of approximately $5 for every $1 invested in BrainTrack. Sensitivity analyses showed ratios ranging from AU$0.86:1 to AU$24:1. The largest proportion of estimated social value was associated with increased motivation to change, whereas reduced stigma and increased help-seeking were associated with comparatively smaller estimated social value. Overall, BrainTrack was associated with social and economic value through cognitive self-monitoring, increased dementia awareness, and greater engagement with health services.