Alzheimer’s Society Accelerator selects two dementia innovations

An app that monitors changes in dementia symptoms and a device that tracks dehydration for development have been chosen for development by the Alzheimer’s Society’s Accelerator programme.

Neu Health and Hydro Care, have been selected as accelerator partners for 2025 and will be supported through the process of bringing their innovation to market in 2026.

Neu Health is an app that provides tailored, continuous care for people with dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s, by helping them to better understand and manage changes in their symptoms.

Caroline Cake, chief executive and cofounder of Neu Health, said: “People with dementia often don’t receive regular monitoring after their diagnosis.

“There’s a real lack of tools to track and support day-to-day management and care is often reactive, not proactive.

“Neu Health fills this gap with data-driven insights that support better, more timely care.

“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.

“Many still wait far too long for care and don’t get the support they need, something I’ve sadly seen first-hand after my grandmother and mother’s diagnoses.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Alzheimer’s Society to bring the app to reality.”

The other product selected in the accelerator, Hydro Care, can monitor when a person living with dementia’s hydration levels drop, which their loved ones can remotely track.

Dehydration can lead to urinary tract infections, kidney damage, and unnecessary hospital admissions, with 14% of admissions for dementia patients directly attributable to dehydration.

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 and that identifying issues like urinary tract infections can be difficult.

“Hydro Care gives peace of mind that their loved one is drinking enough and, if not, allows them to take early action.

“By having accurate and timely hydration measures at home, we can maintain quality of life and reduce hospital admissions.”

Since it began operating in 2019, the Alzheimer’s Society Accelerator has supported and invested in 17 start-ups, reaching more than 100,000 people affected by dementia.

It offers business support, access to a community of experts, including people living with dementia, and a possibility of up to £100,000 of investment.

Simon Lord, head of innovation at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “At Alzheimer’s Society, we support and invest in innovations that not only help the individual but also have the potential to ease pressure on their carers, their loved ones, the NHS and wider society.

“That’s exactly what both Hydro Care and Neu Health have the potential to do and I’m so excited to see their development over the next year.”

Meanwhile, in May 2024, an initiative that uses interactive light technology to develop activities and games for people with dementia was rolled out by the Alzheimer’s Society in partnership with Sport England and Social-Ability.