Around 50 million people worldwide are living with dementia – a devastating condition that can ruin lives, stripping individuals of memories, relationships and identity. That number is predicted to increase to 153 million by 2050.
Technology is already transforming care, but has mostly focused on products that monitor a person’s vital signs, activity or whereabouts, providing data to carers and family members. There is a possibility that people living with dementia risk becoming passengers in their own care.
Helping people living with dementia live enjoyable and fulfilling lives
Recent leaps in artificial intelligence and other assistive tech offer the opportunity to strike a balance that complements these existing technologies. The tech that already powers our phones, TVs, social media apps, smart speakers and even our cars, could be applied to assistive technologies to be used by people living with dementia.
The Longitude Prize on Dementia is calling on innovators around the world to apply the power of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to develop technologies that can bridge the cognitive gaps that develop when a person’s dementia progresses.
Co-designed with people living with dementia
The prize has been designed in collaboration with people living with dementia, who will also be involved in the judging process at every stage. It will support innovators to work in collaboration with people living with the disease to develop technological solutions that support the people who need it most.
In addition, wider support will provide innovators with crucial insight and expertise, facilitating whatever they need to bring their ideas to life.his includes access to data, collaborations with people living with dementia and dementia organisations in the UK and globally, as well as advice on product design, user experience and business mentoring.
Partnerships
We have partnered with a number of international organisations to reach out to innovators across the world and finalise the non-financial support programme, including: AARP (US), AgeWell (Canada), MedTeq+ (Canada), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Social Tech Trust (UK) and Amazon Web Services (UK).
The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) in Canada are interested in co-funding Canadian specific innovator activities and the UK’s National Institute for Research Health (NIHR) are funding a rigorous assessment study of the solutions in development in the finalist phase which will be led by a group of academic evaluation experts.