By Ruth Dixon, Programme Lead, Challenge Works

Humans are social creatures – connection to others is vital for good health and wellbeing.

Despite this, research conducted last year showed that almost one out of every four older individuals in the world feels lonely – a significant and saddening statistic.

Research has consistently shown that people who become socially isolated as they get older are more likely to develop dementia.

Furthermore, people who already have dementia tend to experience a faster decline of their symptoms when they are socially isolated.

This was particularly evident during COVID lockdowns when people with dementia were cut off from their social networks.

Faced with an aging population, we must ensure that people can continue to grow old with dignity, remain independent and stay connected with loved ones after a dementia diagnosis – something that artificial intelligence is helping to make possible.

Technology to combat social isolation

While there is no silver bullet to combat social isolation, there are technologies available that can help to support people to remain independent in their own home and maintain connections with their friends, family and community.

Doing so can help to preserve their dignity, identity and sense of purpose while reducing stress and anxiety through familiar surroundings.

It allows them to maintain daily routines and cognitive function for longer by living in a comfortable environment with known, consistent layouts.

Thanks to the rapidly evolving technological landscape, we are venturing far beyond basic solutions.

AI and machine learning enables innovators to support those living with dementia directly (not just their caregivers) and in turn, better mitigate the risk of social isolation – with more than three quarters (77 per cent) of family doctors believing this type of technology will help people with dementia to live longer.

Designing with and for people living with dementia

However, for dementia technology to be effective, it needs to be designed with, not just for, the end user.

MemoryAid is a fantastic example of a co-created solution.

Designed to be reminiscent of a traditional telephone, MemoryAid is a home assistant device that has been developed specifically for and with people living with dementia to help them make video calls and stay connected.

The touchscreens on everyday smartphones and tablets are not always designed with older users in mind.

Smartphones and tablets need to be kept charged and require dexterous movements, be it swiping, tapping or clicking small buttons to make or answer a call – a challenge for many people, let alone someone living with a neurodegenerative condition.

Rather than having to navigate a touchscreen device – to make and answer video calls with loved ones, friends and caregivers – MemoryAid users simply pick up the handset, a familiar action from a lifetime of practice, deeply ingrained in cognitive and muscle memory.

It was one of five international finalists in the Longitude Prize on Dementia – a global prize rewarding the development of assistive technologies for and with people living with dementia.

The £1 million grand prize was awarded to CrossSense, a revolutionary AI companion built into smart glasses to help people maintain their independence, in a ceremony last week.

But of course, it’s not just virtual connection that makes a difference to independence at home, physical safety matters too, especially in maintaining face-to-face relationships.

Enabling physical safety

A very different innovation, that also ran for the Longitude Prize on Dementia, is Theora360 – a wearable device to support people to live confidently at home without the fear of falling or wandering, enabling greater autonomy over their day to day lives.

Venturing outside independently can be difficult for people with cognitive impairments like dementia, with the fear of getting lost or falling and sustaining a serious injury presenting a barrier to leaving the house with confidence.

While most falls only result in minor injury, sometimes they can have a more serious impact – leading to a loss of mobility, independence and self-esteem.

Events such as hospitalisation and relocation can induce a range of negative experiences. A fall may cause someone to become home or bed-bound.

For someone with dementia, this may cause further distress as they may be unable to remember the cause of their injury or how to manage it effectively.

They are also more likely to experience worsening mental function as a result of pain or delirium.

If someone falls or wanders, Theora360 can alert a carer or loved one in real time, enabling rapid intervention. The sooner help can reach someone, it’s likely that the health consequences for them will be less severe.

The technology empowers people to retain agency over their social life, to go for their weekly coffee with a neighbour or visit the post office reassured that the support and assistance is there if they need it.

Facilitating meaningful moments

But where will AI take care next?

Solutions are continuously evolving.

The Theora 360 team, for example, is currently working with Texas A&M University to develop predictive capabilities based on changes in gait, to identify when a fall is likely and prevent it from happening in the first place.

There’s no doubt that technology is helping to shift the dial when it comes to combatting social isolation for people living with dementia.

By empowering people to remain independent, boosting confidence and helping to eliminate fear, AI can be a way to facilitate some of the most real and most meaningful moments between people.

Ruth Dixon is a Programme Lead at Challenge Works, a global leader in the design and delivery of open innovation challenge prizes for social good.

The Longitude Prize on Dementia is funded by Alzheimer’s Society and Innovate UK.