‘Smart socks’ could help millions living with dementia

LONDON: A new innovation by an inventor who took a PhD at a Robotics Laboratory could help millions of people living with dementia.

The ‘smart socks’ developed by Dr Zeke Steer of Milbotix sense rising distress in people living with dementia, autism and other conditions that affect communication so that carers can intervene before escalation.

Milbotix said the smart socks, which look and feel like normal socks, offer a non-obtrusive alternative to wrist-worn sensors that can stigmatise and cause more distress.

Dr Steer said: “The foot is actually a great place to collect data about stress, and socks are a familiar piece of clothing that people wear every day.

“Our research shows that the socks can accurately recognise signs of stress – which could really help not just those with dementia and autism, but their carers too.”

Dr Steer is now growing the business: testing the socks with people living with mid to late-stage dementia and developing the tech before bringing the product to market next year. Milbotix will begin a funding round later this year.

Milbotix will be supported by Alzheimer’s Society through their Accelerator Programme, which is helping fund the smart socks’ development, providing innovation support and helping test what it described as a “brilliant product”.

Natasha Howard-Murray, Senior Innovator at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Some people with dementia may present behaviours such as aggression, irritability and resistance to care.

“This innovative wearable tech is a fantastic, accessible way for staff to better monitor residents’ distress and agitation.”