Dementia is a rising drawback, significantly in a rustic like India, which has a quickly ageing inhabitants. Awareness, diagnosis and entry to care nonetheless, proceed to stay restricted. Can digital and assistive applied sciences help? Researchers and docs say there may be a variety of potential, however the problem is, in making them inexpensive for sufferers.
The burden
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 55 million people worldwide stay with dementia, with almost 10 million new circumstances added yearly. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form, contributing to 60–70% of circumstances. Low- and middle-income nations, together with India, bear the best burden, with dementia prevalence anticipated to triple by 2050 on account of demographic ageing.
Emerging applied sciences
“In India, assistive and digital technologies are emerging as force multipliers,” stated Prabash Prabhakaran, director and senior marketing consultant, neurology, SIMS Hospital, Chennai. These vary from GPS trackers and low-cost Internet of Things (IoT) wearables for sufferers who wander or go away their designated areas, to residence sensors that monitor motion, equipment utilization, or treatment adherence.
Smartwatches and wearable gadgets for exercise, sleep and fall detection have gotten extra widespread, whereas smartphone-based cognitive screening apps and gamified brain-training instruments are in validation phases. Virtual actuality modules are additionally being piloted, designed in vernacular languages and Indian cultural settings for memory remedy and navigation coaching.
At the analysis frontier, Indian centres are creating blood-based biomarker panels for early Alzheimer’s detection, alongside AI-driven multimodal digital biomarkers that mix gait, speech, typing patterns and passive smartphone indicators.
“Earlier and scalable detection is becoming possible because smartphone penetration is high, even among older households,” Dr. Prabhakaran defined. Studies have proven that keystroke dynamics, speech evaluation and passive telephone use can function unobtrusive early-warning indicators.
Sindhuja L., marketing consultant neurophysician at V.S. Hospitals, Chennai, stated AI now picks up delicate adjustments “in brain scans, speech or even handwriting that escape the human eye.” She famous that digital biomarkers similar to strolling pace and response time are being captured on tablets and smartphones, even by cell well being items visiting rural communities.
Dr. Prabhakaran careworn that these applied sciences will not be replacements for medical diagnosis, however “powerful early detection and monitoring tools, especially valuable in India where clinic-based testing is episodic.”
Easing caregiver stress
“Dementia disrupts daily living, independence, and safety while burdening caregivers. Assistive technologies help maintain independence and reduce stress,” Dr. Prabhakaran stated. In apply, households are utilizing GPS trackers, pill-box alarms, fall detectors, and voice-assisted reminders. Smart-home options, similar to motion-triggered lights and automated range shut-offs, at the moment are possible in city settings.
Therapeutic instruments additionally present promise. Virtual actuality memory remedy has allowed sufferers to revisit festivals or acquainted neighbourhoods, sparking constructive recollections. “When families join in brain-training games in local languages, they turn into a shared, engaging activity instead of a medical routine,” Dr. Sindhuja stated.
Gaps and digital-first options
Nearly two-thirds of India’s older adults stay in rural areas, the place dementia specialists are scarce. “Travel distance, cost, stigma, and shortage of trained specialists mean many cases remain undiagnosed or untreated,” Dr. Prabhakaran stated.
Here, telemedicine, distant monitoring, and community-driven digital platforms provide a bridge. Accredited frontline well being staff can use smartphone screening apps, whereas caregivers depend on WhatsApp-based peer teams for emotional and sensible help. Dr. Sindhuja emphasised that “scheduled video calls or remote monitoring can catch problems before they escalate, making care less isolating.”
High prices, lack of insurance, and uneven after-sales help stay important hurdles. “Most advanced devices are imported and unaffordable for average families,” stated Dr. Sindhuja. In rural areas, poor connectivity worsens entry. Cultural limitations additionally persist, as memory loss is still seen as part of normal ageing, resulting in delayed care-seeking.
Considering these challenges, Sridhar Vaitheeswaran, marketing consultant psychiatrist and the pinnacle of DEMCARES (Dementia Care in SCARF) on the Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF) in Chennai, stated the Foundation, in collaboration with Imperial College London, has been engaged on applied sciences like the humanoid robot to help folks residing with dementia, providing companionship and cognitive help.
SCARF can also be creating digital actuality companies and utilizing platforms similar to Zoom to help sufferers join with their households. The goal is to enhance these instruments and create extra seamless methods for folks with dementia to remain engaged and supported.
Need for subsidies
Dr. Prabhakaran known as for coverage interventions together with subsidies, insurance coverage inclusion, and local-language adaptation. He proposed “digital dementia corners” at major well being centres, geared up with tablets, VR stations, and screening kiosks.
Doctors emphasised the necessity for public–non-public partnerships to localise manufacturing, guarantee affordability, and drive consciousness campaigns in regional languages.
Towards a nationwide dementia-tech ecosystem
A variety of assistive applied sciences is used globally– In Japan, scannable QR codes and wearable barcodes are broadly used to help find people who wander. The U.Ok. promotes the usage of reminder clocks, sensible residence sensors and treatment dispensers by the National Health Services and dementia charities. In the U.S., gadgets like AngelSense combine GPS monitoring, two-way communication and fall detection, providing complete monitoring. Australia helps telecare programs and simplified tablets for reminiscence and social engagement. Sweden and the Netherlands are pioneers in utilizing sensible houses and robotic companions for dementia care, incorporating AI and ambient monitoring.
These improvements, nonetheless, stay out of attain for many Indian households. The problem, specialists argue, is not only scientific however systemic, guaranteeing that validated, inexpensive, culturally related applied sciences attain houses throughout India. The path ahead lies in scalable, inclusive technology, built-in with grassroots healthcare and caregiver networks.
As Dr. Prabhakaran defined, “Assistive devices, GPS trackers, smart-home solutions, and therapeutic tools are not luxuries: they are critical enablers of safer, more independent living. With proper validation, affordability, and integration into national elder-care programmes, these technologies can transform dementia care in the coming decade.”