An Edinburgh-based start-up that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help older people live independently for longer has received £750,000 in funding to explore how commercially-available wearable technologies might predict the risk of falls and other age-related health issues.
In one of the UK’s largest research projects of its kind, 300 individuals over 55 years-of-age and with a history of falls, will be given a mainstream wearable device - like a Fitbit or Garmin - to wear for six months. This should produce enough data to create an AI-powered algorithm that will predict the likelihood of a fall, with hopes it could save the NHS more than £4.4bn annually.
Garrett Sprague, Smplicare’s chief executive and co-founder, said: “Our technology allows users to monitor and manage their own health data, to empower independent ageing and promote wellbeing as we age.
“The need is immediate and immense, given the rapidly ageing population and this study, one of the largest ever conducted, will provide enough data that we will use to develop better tools to enable individuals to manage their personal health and maintain their independence in later life.”
The research team is being led by Smplicare’s chief innovation officer Dr Adrian Smales, and is supported by data delivery partners including Dr Atul Anand, an NHS and University of Edinburgh geriatrician with experience in big data clinical studies.
It is also supported by Data Lab, Scotland’s innovation centre for data and AI, whose scientists will analyse the data.
Data Lab's chief executive Brian Hills said: “With pressure growing on the UK’s hospitals and care providers, this is exactly the type of data-driven innovation the country, as an ageing nation, needs right now.”
The funding came from the UK Research and Innovation's Healthy Ageing Challenge, which supports the UK Government's ‘Grand Challenge’ of adding five years of healthy, independent life by 2035.
The funding split is 70% supported by the grant and 30% provided by private investors.
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