Empowering Independence: The Longitude Prize on Dementia
As the Longitude Prize on Dementia approaches in March, The Innovation Platform spoke with Ruth Dixon, Programme Lead at Challenge Works, about the five finalists and technology-based tools developed to help individuals with dementia maintain their independence at home.
The Longitude Prize on Dementia (https://dementia.longitudeprize.org/) is a £4.4 million prize aimed at driving the creation of personalized, technology-based tools co-created with people living with dementia, helping them maintain their independence at home.
Since 2024, five finalists have been supported to develop new assistive technologies, with the £1 million grand prize to be awarded in March 2026.
Dementia, a progressive condition with no cure, can be accelerated by unfamiliar hospital or care home environments (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197457221000859). Assistive technology can help individuals stay safe and independent in their homes for longer.
The Longitude Prize on Dementia has incentivized and supported the creation of five technologies using the latest technology, AI, and machine learning to provide personalized support for people with dementia.
Each technology has been co-designed with people living with dementia to meet their diverse needs and address the challenges of living with the condition.
AI-driven technology can alleviate the emotional and economic demands of care, with dementia costing the UK £42 billion annually (https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/what-we-do/policy-and-influencing/dementia-scale-impact-numbers) (as of 2024).
While the finalists have developed different solutions, their common goals include helping people with dementia stay in their homes longer, continue fulfilling daily activities, and maintain social interactions.
Challenges of Maintaining Independence:
With 50 million people worldwide living with dementia, many are familiar with its devastating impact, causing memory, relationship, and identity loss. Three-quarters (76%) (https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-us/policy-and-influencing/reports/survey-lived-experiences-dementia) of people affected by dementia say it negatively impacts their ability to carry out tasks independently, their hobbies (67%) (https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-us/policy-and-influencing/reports/survey-lived-experiences-dementia), and their self-confidence (64%) (https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-us/policy-and-influencing/reports/survey-lived-experiences-dementia).
Remaining independent at home preserves dignity, identity, and purpose while reducing stress and anxiety through familiar surroundings.
It allows individuals to maintain daily routines and cognitive function longer by living in a comfortable environment with known, consistent layouts.
However, individual needs can vary greatly, and the Longitude Prize on Dementia ensures people with lived experience of dementia are involved at every stage, co-creating solutions for early-stage dementia and leveraging adaptive AI technology to support changing needs.
AUTONOMOUS: A Kitchen-Based Sensor System
AUTONOMOUS is a kitchen-based sensor system developed by a team at Associação Fraunhofer Portugal Research in Porto, in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University and LUCA School of Arts.
It connects with a smart watch worn by the person living with dementia to remind them of routines or check on forgotten tasks, like leaving the stove on or a tap running.
The system uses cameras, microphones, and AI trained on Large Visual Models to understand the person's house and routines, protecting privacy by connecting and running from a small computer in the home.
The visual design is sleek and modern, with adaptable colors and designs, including a vase for flowers, giving the user ownership over the system.
CrossSense: Smart Glasses for Daily Tasks
CrossSense is an AI companion developed for smart glasses, seeing and listening to the user, and learning the sequence of activities.
It gently asks questions to understand and learn a person's unique way of doing things, identifying everyday objects and guiding people through daily activities like making tea, getting dressed, or interacting with loved ones.
The interactive AI companion provides cognitive stimulation, helping to maintain neural connections, improve quality of life, and slow cognitive decline.
MemoryAid: Enhancing Communication and Accessibility
MemoryAid enables people with dementia to stay connected with loved ones and manage tasks and reminders on a single device.
Many people with dementia over 65 struggle with mainstream devices designed for younger users.
MemoryAid, reminiscent of a traditional telephone, allows users to make or answer video calls, respond to notifications, and upload familiar voices, photos, and tasks for recognizable on-screen prompts.
SenS2: Radar Technology for Movement Monitoring
SenS2 uses radar technology and AI to recognize household routines, monitoring movement in the home without cameras or microphones.
It provides WhatsApp updates to family and caregivers, offering reassurance or alerts if unusual behavior is detected, allowing individuals to live independently with the assurance of help when needed.
Theora 360: Situational Awareness for Fall Prevention
Theora 360, embedded in a smartwatch, uses situational awareness technology to detect falls and wandering episodes in real-time.
People with dementia are twice as likely to experience falls, and 60% of those with Alzheimer's will wander at least once, increasing physical and psychological safety risks.
Theora 360 uses Ultra Wide Band technology and unobtrusive sensors to provide precise 360-degree movement detection, helping to anticipate fall risks and provide reassurance to wearers.
Diverse Approaches and Contributions
The five finalists' diverse approaches reflect the varying needs of people with dementia, with each technology making unique contributions to supporting independence and quality of life.
As dementia progresses, so do the solutions, utilizing adaptive technologies that adjust to individual needs.
The innovations help with daily tasks, safety, cognitive stimulation, and social connections, all contributing to longer independent living at home.
Remaining at home in a familiar environment can maintain daily routines, safety, and cognitive function, slowing the condition's progress.
The innovations have been co-created with people with lived experience of dementia, who reviewed designs and provided advice for independent living.
Future Trends and Impact
Dementia prevalence in the UK is projected to rise from around one million to 1.4 million by 2040, with a global estimate of 55 million cases currently and 139 million by 2050.
The impact extends beyond those with dementia, with one in three people likely to care for a person with dementia in their lifetime, affecting health and requiring significant societal changes.
