People with dementia deserve purpose-designed solutions, not makeshift support

Fiona Carragher, Director of Research and Influencing at the Alzheimer’s Society, a co-founder of the Longitude Prize on Dementia, contributed an article to Open Access Government explaining her views on how artificial intelligence (AI) and adaptive technology can help people living with dementia. 

She describes how despite the fact that drugs lecanemab and donanemab are the first to have ever slowed down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, they’ve simultaneously highlighted the challenges we face surrounding their delivery, and the urgent need for support for people living with dementia now.

Makeshift solutions to get by 

Citing research from the Longitude Prize on Dementia, Fiona explains how more than two-thirds (67%) of GPs in the UK would like to prescribe assistive technologies to their patients when they are diagnosed with dementia; a solution that can help patients today while we await drug approval. 

Though 69% of GPs said patients with dementia are increasingly relying on technology as a memory tool, having spoken to members of the prize’s lived experience panel, Fiona explains how often these take the form of makeshift solutions such as reminders set on a phone or bespoke alarms to help assist with their daily activities.

Digital developments specific to dementia

While Fiona agrees that current technologies such as this can play an important role in supporting patients, she argues it is simply not good enough that we do not have technological solutions specifically designed for people living with dementia more readily available – which is where the Longitude Prize on Dementia comes in. 

The prize announced 24 semi-finalists in June 2023, all of which are working to the prize goals of driving personalised, technology-based tools that are co-created with people living with the early stages of dementia, helping them to live independent, more fulfilled lives. 

Three of the semi-finalists include a digital yellow brick road to assist with navigation, an app that can provide prompts to complete daily activities, and an AI interactive advisor to help with Aphasia or ‘broken speech’.

AI technologies that enable independence 

Fiona describes her excitement surrounding the prize, and its potential to promote greater independence amongst people living with dementia.

She says she is particularly thrilled to see designs that can adapt to an individual’s changing condition and cognitive function, enabling them to remain in their own home for longer. 

Fiona concludes by stating that the prize is only just scratching the surface of the potential for AI, particularly surrounding diagnostics, and that she expects to see huge advances in the coming years. 

Read Fiona’s full article in Open Access Government here