Cognitive assistive technology: The case for resource centres

Dementia and brain injury remain pressing areas for innovation and treatment that can improve the lives of those with such conditions. Every USA state has an assistive technology centre that includes aids for dementia and brain injury, and such centres are federally funded. In the Republic of Ireland, there are 22 "Memory Technology Resource Rooms', nationally funded, and they specialise in supporting conditions such as dementia and brain injury. In the UK, no such centres exist. The 10-year Health Plan for England has as its key goals applying advances in technology to healthcare and establishing neighbourhood health centres. We propose that the UK follow the examples of the USA and Ireland, and that each UK county has a Cognitive Assistive Technology centre, with a focus on cognitive aids and related smart home technologies for patients with dementia and other brain disorders that impact cognitive function.