Accelerating early dementia detection – UKRI

These projects form part of Innovate UK’s support for the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals which is driving faster progress towards more personalised dementia treatments and tools across the UK.

Dementia in the UK

Dementia is one of the most significant health challenges facing the UK today.

With one in two people likely to be directly affected, whether through caring for someone with the condition, developing it themselves, or both, its impact touches nearly every family.

An estimated £34.7 billion is currently spent each year on healthcare, social care and informal support.

These costs are projected to rise to over £94 billion by 2040, reflecting both the growing need and the importance of finding new, more effective ways to respond.

READ-OUT study

The REAl-world Dementia OUTcomes (READ-OUT) study is a UK research programme aiming to improve early dementia diagnosis by combining blood-based biomarkers with digital cognitive assessments.

The study, led by the University of Oxford, will involve over 3,000 participants across 28 NHS sites, with a strong focus on inclusion, targeting 30% recruitment from underrepresented groups.

A complete picture of cognitive health

Funded through Innovate UK Contracts for Innovation, two projects will support the integration of high-quality digital cognitive tools into READ-OUT, helping to accelerate innovation and prepare these technologies for NHS use.

Together, these tools offer a more complete picture of cognitive health, supporting earlier, more personalised care.

This bolt-on to the READ-OUT study is supported by the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative preparedness programme which offers implementation support and evaluation, drawing on experience from more than 50 health systems globally.

Smarter diagnosis with digital tools

University of Oxford spin-out Kneu Health’s project is building on a decade of research and clinical testing to deliver smartphone-based digital cognitive assessments that are already being used in clinics.

Now, the team is looking to make these digital tools even more effective by developing the following two new algorithms.

Hybrid diagnostic panel

This combines results from the smartphone tests with READ-OUT biomarker data to create a combined diagnostic panel.

Together, they give a clearer picture of someone’s cognitive health earlier on, helping to make a more accurate diagnosis.

Pre-assessment algorithm

For patients waiting to see a specialist at a memory clinic or with a neurologist, this tool allows them to complete the digital test at home.

It also includes short questionnaires about memory and mood.

By the time they arrive at the clinic, doctors already have a full cognitive profile, saving time and helping prioritise care.

Removing barriers to early diagnosis

Food for the Brain Foundation, a registered charity, has created a digital cognitive test that’s designed to be used independently.

It enables timely, accurate and scalable diagnosis of dementia through a validated tool integrated into NHS services.

The test checks the following four key areas of brain function:

• thinking speed
• memory
• recognition
• decision-making

Reducing health inequalities

The test can be done at home via standard web browsers without any special equipment or training.

By including this tool in the READ-OUT study, the project aims to make early dementia detection easier and more widely available.

It supports personalised care and earlier intervention, helping to reduce health inequalities.

Supporting an NHS fit for the future

Dr Cynthia Bullock, Director, Healthy Lives at Innovate UK, said:

Digital cognitive assessments have the potential to transform how we detect and diagnose dementia, making it faster, more accurate, and accessible to more people.

By supporting these projects through the READ-OUT study, we’re not only driving innovation into NHS settings, but also helping reduce long-term care costs and improve outcomes for patients and families across the UK.