Transforming care for people living with dementia through UK-based collaboration, NEURii. 

About NEURii

NEURii will explore the use of data and digital solutions to complement approved treatment options for dementia and solve issues related to the prediction, prevention, management, and treatment of dementia.  

It will test the waters with 3 projects – all utilising pre-existing population level data unique to the Scottish NHS – during an initial 2-year pilot phase.   

These projects will explore innovative digital tools that integrate a range of digital biomarkers – gathered non-invasively from both clinical and everyday environments – with existing health data, which is then processed through specially designed AI algorithms.  

They include:   

• A digital speech bank and speech-based real-time digital assessment tool to detect neurodegeneration  
• Development of a diagnostic tool for predicting future risk of and diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases using hospital and community eye scan data   
• Development of digital biomarkers of healthy ageing and neurodegenerative disease using nationally collected MRI scan image data 

We are committing up to £1.5 million to support the initial pilot phase, with matched funding from NEURii partners to a total of £4.8 million. Alongside funding, we will also be closely involved in both the operations and active management of the projects. Using real-world data, we will measure the impact of potential new solutions and evaluate their effectiveness. 

Aims and impact of this collaboration

NEURii focuses on utilising data and digital solutions in dementia care to improve:  

• earlier detection and diagnosis   
• evidence-based treatment decision-making   
• monitoring of disease progression   
• the quality of life for those living with dementia and contribute to the UK’s national data infrastructure. 

Through this collaboration, we hope to inspire a wider industry-wide shift and scale up digital health efforts across the UK and beyond. 

About dementia

Dementia encompasses a range of medical conditions and diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia.  

It is estimated that more than 55 million people are currently living with dementia in the world and nearly one million in the UK, and this number is expected to grow rapidly. 

As well as having a significant impact on the lives of patients and those who care for them (52% of the UK public knows someone who has been diagnosed with a form of dementia), these conditions place significant pressure on health and social care systems. 

Early diagnosis for dementia-causing disorders like Alzheimer’s disease is hugely important, especially as therapies that could alter the course of the disease are being developed and considered for approval.