Alzheimer's Disease Screening
With an ageing global population, Alzheimer's disease is one of humanity's greatest healthcare challenges. As part of our technology roadmap, we intend to apply our technology for use in a device that enables screening in non-clinical settings such as pharmacies and care homes for the early signs of Alzheimer's.
Please Note: Whilst it is our intention to use our technology to develop a screening device for Alzheimer's, we have not yet started work on this project. This page outlines why we believe and solution for screening for Alzheimer's is a worthwhile goal.
The Alzheimer's Problem
If global dementia care were a country, it would be the 18th largest economy in the world.”
That quote from Alzheimer’s Disease International starkly illustrates the cost of managing dementia. At over $1 trillion per year worldwide, dementia costs equate to the entire GDP of the Netherlands or roughly a third of that of the UK. And with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for up to 75% of those costs, it is no wonder that there is a global drive to find ways of effectively identifying and managing the condition.
There are 36 million people with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia in the world
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One in three seniors dies with Alzheimer's or another dementia
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42,000 young people in the UK are living with young-onset dementia
28 million people worldwide are living with the condition undiagnosed
Those living with the disease and their families pay on average £32,250 annually for social care
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It is estimate that £5T could be saved worldwide by earlier diagnosis of the disease.
"We need to boost investment into research for treatments that can slow or prevent dementia. Research is also critical to find effective ways to care for people with dementia from diagnosis through to the end of their lives."
Source: alzheimers.org.uk
Alzheimer's Screening
Occuity is researching and developing patented optical technology that has the potential to measure a number of characteristics within the eye using a low power beam of light.
We are currently working on our first device, the PM1 pachymeter, for use by ophthalmologists to support the diagnosis of glaucoma. Our work on the PM1, will help us prove the efficacy of our technology and provide firm foundations on which to develop our technology further to enable the analysis of other elements within the eye.
One of the elements, we intend to develop a device to screen for is Amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer's Disease. Amyloid plaques are hard, insoluble accumulations of beta-amyloid proteins that clump together between the nerve cells (neurons) in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. These same plaques have been shown to build up in the lens over time. By developing our technology to enable the monitoring of how these plaques are building up over time, it is our intention to develop a screening device that supports the earlier diagnosis of the disease and therefore enables subsequent treatment options to be considered.
Our Ambition
A prospective handheld device would work by analysing the fluorescence from these markers in the ocular lens and other parts of the eye achieving either measurements or monitoring parameters.
Crucially, due to the inherent non-invasive, unlimited capabilities of our technology, it will be easier to conduct screening in non-clinical environments such as pharmacies, opticians, domiciliary care homes and in domestic settings.
NB. Whilst Occuity's Alzheimer's Disease Screening device is still in the research and development phase, work on the underlying technology that will provide the foundations for the device are continuing through the development of our other devices, including the PM1 Pachymeter and non-invasive glucose monitor.
Non Contact
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No pain
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No risk of infection
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No consumables
Simple
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Compact Handheld Design
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Quick Operation
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Cost-Effective
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Usable in domestic settings
Accurate
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State of the Art Optical Technology
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Accurate Measurement
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Unlimited Scans
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Why should you join our community?
Occuity has a mission to improve the screening and monitoring of some of humanity's greatest health challenges.
If you believe in our vision, please sign up as only if we have your support are we ever going to be successful in creating a better way to screen and monitor for this disease.
Benefits & Opportunities
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Be Informed - Stay up-to-date with our progress
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Inform Us - Take part in surveys and groups - ultimately helping our R&D team make crucial decisions on design, function, name, look, feel and more
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Take Part - Help us with crucial clinical trials
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Have your say - tell us the story of your experiences with Alzheimer's.
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Reviews - Help us spread the word about our work
Thank you for all your support.