Co-design and evaluation of sensor-instrumented ‘smart socks’ (MPATIX) to improve management of distress and agitation for people with dementia

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More than 70% of the 430,000 care home residents in the UK have dementia or similar memory problems (Alzheimer's Society/ONS). By 2035 the UK dementia population will double to 1.6m.Dementia care is challenging and expensive, costing £35b in the UK. As communication becomes more difficult, people can struggle to request help when they are in distress. This leads to challenging behavioural symptoms (aggression, anxiety) often reflecting resolvable care issues such as discomfort/lack of pain management. Currently, around half of people with dementia experience behavioural symptoms linked to unmanaged distress.Critically, carers face challenges successfully meeting the needs of people with dementia who cannot identify or communicate why/that they are in distress. There is an unmet need for technological solutions which support carers to promptly respond to individuals' unique needs and situational triggers.Milbotix have developed MPATIX Smart Socks, which incorporate sensors that track pulse, sweat, temperature and motion to give accurate insights on the wearer's wellbeing. Utilising our novel machine learning algorithm and mobile application, we can provide unique anxiety/distress information, without disruption for people with dementia or their carers. Looking and feeling like normal socks, the MPATIX socks are machine washable and don't require charging. MPATIX integrates with care home data systems allowing the system to augment existing workflows for easier adoption.Funded by Alzheimer's Society, the UK's leading dementia charity, Milbotix has developed a validated TRL 6 prototype, which has demonstrated reliability at detecting anxiety (74%-98% accurate). This project will develop a trial-ready version, enabling the necessary large-scale RCT which fully quantifies and demonstrates the care provider and individual benefits of deployment.With MPATIX, we are ideally positioned to address a rapidly growing market opportunity and emerging social challenge in an ageing population.