The Longitude Prize on Dementia is a £4.42 million prize, funded by Alzheimer’s Society and Innovate UK, to drive the creation of technology-based tools that help those with the early stages of dementia to live independent, more fulfilled lives.

The nationally representative poll of GPs was undertaken to better understand appetite amongst primary care doctors for the use of technology in helping people and families affected by dementia.

It found that family doctors were especially keen to see new technologies designed to help people with dementia to maintain their autonomy. Nearly nine in ten (88%) GPs believe that people living with dementia who can live in their own homes will live more fulfilling lives, with over three quarters (77%) believing it will help people to live longer.

However, 83% of GPs voiced frustration that their dementia patients do not receive enough support at home. While there are some existing technologies designed for people with dementia, most focus on monitoring a person living with the condition, rather than supporting them continue doing day-to-day activities — a concern shared by 86% of the GPs surveyed.

Many of the GPs polled also believe their patients would benefit from responsive tech such as an intuitive app to help them navigate their community, or smart glasses that could tell them who they are looking at.

As it stands, GPs are already suggesting to their dementia patients to use existing technology, with 64% of family doctors recommending tech-related hacks, including adding simple reminders to take medications on phones and smart speakers.

Relatedly, 69% of respondents say their patients with dementia are increasingly relying on technology as a memory tool, such as storing relationship details in their phone contacts (e.g. “Anne – daughter”).

Kate Lee, CEO of Alzheimer’s Society, which is a co-funder of the Longitude Prize on Dementia, said: “It’s encouraging that many GPs join us in seeing the huge potential that tech could bring for the 900,000 people in the UK living with dementia.

“Dementia is a progressive condition set to affect one in three people born today, so we must think more broadly about how to end the devastation it causes, by helping people manage their symptoms and stay independent for longer.

“It’s exciting that soon we may have potential new treatments that could slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease, but alongside this we need to urgently push forward ways of helping people with dementia right now. We believe tech involving people with dementia, for people with dementia, can be a key way of doing this.”

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In June 2023, the Longitude Prize on Dementia announced the 24 semi-finalists developing new assistive technologies for people living with dementia, each receiving grants of £80,000. The tools include virtual reality devices to reduce anxiety, smart glasses that tell a user what they are looking at, technology to help fill in broken speech as someone loses their speaking abilities, and an augmented reality navigation app.

Between now and next summer, the semi-finalists will work with people living with dementia and their carers to refine their solutions before the five most promising ideas progress to the final stages of the competition.

In total, £3.42 million in seed funding and development grants will be given to the range of targeted solutions, with a £1 million first prize to be awarded in 2026.