The annual programme supports innovators to develop products which help people living with dementia, making sure they are accessible, affordable, and available to those who need them the most. Founders behind two products currently in development – Neu Health and Hydro Care – have been selected as this year’s Accelerator partners and will be supported through the process of bringing their innovation to market next year.

The products will help families with the day-to-day care of their loved one, enabling close monitoring to avoid issues like dehydration and helping prevent avoidable hospital admissions and easing pressure on the NHS.  

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

Caroline Cake, Neu Health’s CEO and co-founder, 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 firsthand after my grandmother and mother’s diagnoses. We’re thrilled to partner with Alzheimer’s Society to bring the app to reality.”

Hydro Care is able to 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: 14% of admissions for patients with dementia are directly attributable to dehydration.

Dr Tess Morris-Paterson, founder of Hydro Care, who brings her expertise from working with elite athletes, Premier League Football Clubs, and Formula 1, 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.”

Simon Lord, Alzheimer’s Society’s Head of Innovation, 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.

“One in three people born today will develop dementia in their lifetime. We’re committed to continuing to invest in innovative solutions to address the challenges people living with dementia face today, while our world-class researchers find the treatments of tomorrow. Help us continue to fund our innovators by donating at alzheimers.org.uk/forgetmenotappeal.”

Operating since 2019, Alzheimer’s Society Accelerator has supported and invested in 17 startups, reaching more than 100,000 people affected by dementia. Previous products supported through the programme include hydration sweets, books written for people living with dementia, and a debit card to help people manage their loved ones spending.