Surrey scientists pioneering dementia care

A Surrey-based start up has secured investment from the Alzheimer’s Society Accelerator programme for their innovations in dementia care.

Neu Health and Hydro Care will together develop their technologies to assist in helping people better understand and manage changes in their symptoms.

Caroline Cake, co-founder of Neu Health, said: “We’ve seen how transformative digital tools have been with other conditions, diabetes for example, and we wanted to see if we could do the same for dementia.”

The pairing will focus on technology that monitors hydration levels in dementia patients.

Dr Tess Morris-Paterson, founder of Hydro Care, said: “We know that carers often find it difficult to monitor whether their loved one is drinking enough, a challenge that commonly leads to issues like urinary tract infections that lead to hospital admissions.”

Neu Health has developed a device that monitors changes in symptoms, while Hydrocare has designed an app to keep an eye on hydration.

The new technology will help families with the day-to-day care of their loved one and prevent avoidable hospital admissions, aimed at easing pressure on the NHS.

“I’ve sadly seen first-hand after my grandmother and mother’s diagnoses,” said Cake, “we’re thrilled to partner with Alzheimer’s Society to bring the app to reality.”

Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer, and one in three people born today will develop dementia in their lifetime.

“One in three people born today will develop dementia in their lifetime,” said Simon Lord, Alzheimer’s Society’s Head of Innovation, adding, “We’re committed to the challenges people living with dementia face today.”

Neu Health and Hydro Care aim to have the product market ready in 2026.