Cambridge Startup’s Dementia Monitoring Device Seeks 100 Participants for Trials

Supersense Technologies, a Cambridge-based startup, is seeking 100 individuals living with dementia to participate in trials for a novel device designed to support their independence. The company is developing what it describes as a distinctive monitoring system that operates without the use of cameras or microphones. The SenS2 hub is among five devices selected as finalists for the Longitude Prize on Dementia, an international contest recognizing innovative technology for individuals affected by the condition. Research conducted for this competition indicated that a majority of general practitioners are of the opinion that maintaining independence and the capacity to reside at home contributes to a longer life for those with dementia. Maggie, an 83-year-old Cambridge resident with five children, stated she had “always been independent,” but now, with dementia, “losing my independence isn’t nice.” She acknowledged her need for assistance but found the idea of daily multiple visits from carers “upsetting.” Consequently, she and her family consented to trial the device from Supersense Technologies. The SenS2 hub, a compact, plug-in unit, is capable of tracking Maggie’s movements and environmental conditions within her home, relaying this information to her children. “It’s made a huge difference to the whole family,” commented Lucy Gardner, Maggie’s daughter. “I get a message each morning to say that mum is up and the heating is on.” She added, “It might say that she’s been up a lot during the night and so, even if she can’t remember or communicate that to me, I can talk to her to see if anything’s wrong. “It means she can go about her mornings as she sees fit, without us badgering her”. The prize receives funding from the Alzheimer’s Society, Innovate UK, and Challenge Works, distributing a portion of £4.4m among teams engaged in technology development. Supersense Technologies aims for additional families to trial its device to further its research. Supersense co-founder Dr James Brown stated, “Everyone experiences dementia differently… and all homes are different.” He continued, “Collecting data is really important, so we can understand the needs people have and develop the algorithms to support the personalised service. “It’s key for us to be able to interpret the data and give it to families in a way they understand. “Artificial intelligence will help us to do this.” Each of the five finalist teams has been granted £300,000 to refine their product before the judges declare a winner in 2026. Supersense intends to produce enough hubs for 100 households. Dr Matt Ash, a co-founder of Supersense, explained, “Our first device relied on sensors around the house to feed information back to the box, but now we can monitor everything from this single unit.” He added, “I’ve tested it in my own home and you could clearly see when we put the children to bed, when they woke in the night, when we were up again having breakfast and when the heating came on.” Dr Ash’s personal experience, with his own mother living with dementia, inspired the creation of the device, stemming from a wish to assist families similar to his. He recounted, “One winter, mum didn’t have heating on for two weeks because she didn’t know how to tell us it was broken.” He further elaborated, “We live far away and we want her to retain some independence, but we don’t want her getting into difficulty without us knowing.” In Norfolk, Michael, aged 83, received a dementia diagnosis in 2023. A retired mechanical engineer, he was amenable to trialing the new technology, leading his daughter, Tina Cleveland, to arrange for its installation in his Gorleston-on-Sea residence. Mrs Cleveland remarked, “It was a no-brainer for me.” She continued, “The fact it doesn’t need wi-fi was great for us because dad doesn’t have any, but it was also important to have no cameras. “I don’t want dad to feel uncomfortable.” Michael experienced a reduction in independence after he ceased driving and desires to maintain self-sufficiency for as long as feasible. He relies on labels on his cupboards to recall their contents, but with his daughters’ assistance, he is successfully living in his own home. He stated, “I want to continue as we are, because I’m happy.” Approximately one million individuals in the UK are currently living with dementia, a number anticipated to increase to 1.4 million by the year 2040. Simon Lord, head of innovation at the Alzheimer’s Society, commented, “AI-driven technology has huge potential to help people living with dementia stay active and independent. “As well as helping individuals maintain their sense of self, it can also help alleviate the economic and emotional demands of a person’s care.“That’s why Alzheimer’s Society helped to fund the prize.“As well as Supersense, the finalists include smart glasses to help recognise objects and a traditional telephone device that reminds users of their daily routine. “I look forward to seeing how all of these innovative technologies continue to develop between now and 2026.” For news from the East of England, follow BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire, or BBC Suffolk on X, Instagram, and Facebook. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. 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