MeloCognia wins Rep. Darin LaHood’s 2025 Congressional App Challenge in Illinois’s 16th District

When asked what inspired the creation of MeloCognia, Kavi Praanesh said, “The inspiration behind MeloCognia comes from my grandpa’s experience with Parkinson’s. He wasn’t diagnosed until he was 70, and by that point, his lifestyle had already been significantly impacted. Everyday tasks became harder, and the treatments available were tough on someone his age—they often made things worse or caused side effects that reduced his quality of life. Seeing him go through that was really frustrating because if the condition had been identified earlier, the impact on his day-to-day life might have been less severe. I realized that many people experience the same problem: Parkinson’s is notoriously hard to detect in its early stages, and by the time doctors notice, a lot of damage has already been done. That motivated me to create something that could make early detection simple and accessible. I wanted an app that doesn’t require complex equipment, expensive procedures, or multiple specialist visits—something anyone could use at home. The idea is to give people a fighting chance by alerting them early, allowing for earlier medical consultation, lifestyle adjustments, or preventative care. Essentially, it’s about using technology to make a real difference in people’s lives and prevent others from going through the same struggle my grandpa faced.”