Trinity College Dublin spin-out Head Diagnostics has partnered with NHS virtual outpatient provider, Medefer, to develop a new service that will combine a digital cognitive assessment with remote, consultant-led specialist care to facilitate earlier diagnosis of cognitive decline.
The service will, for the first time, apply Medefer’s remote-first, technology-supported care to dementia assessment. It will be built around Head Diagnostics’ HDx Cognition platform, which includes a digital cognitive battery that has been clinically validated against established paper-based assessments, available at cognition clinics. People perform the initial assessment at home, with consultant oversight and advice on whether further assessment is recommended.
The service covers assessment and diagnosis only. It will be self-funding and can be accessed directly, without a referral. The first cognition clinics are being established, and Medefer and Head Diagnostics hope to build on the learnings from this initial project to expand the service.
Everyday settings
David van Zuydam, Chief Executive Officer of Head Diagnostics, said: “HDx Cognition brings clinically validated digitised cognitive testing into everyday settings, enabling earlier identification of mild cognitive impairment before symptoms become entrenched. By detecting subtle cognitive changes at the point of first concern, we help ensure patients reach expert review sooner. We are pleased to work with Medefer to turn that earlier insight into prompt, specialist-led answers.”
Medefer will lead the service as the clinical partner, overseeing the clinical pathway and its delivery. Medefer will also integrate dementia coordinator support, giving people and their families wider support to understand a diagnosis and access practical help, advice and local services.
Medefer was founded by NHS clinicians in 2013 to provide digitally enabled outpatient care through a remote-first national workforce. Its technology has been used to treat more than 170,000 patients across 25 NHS trust and ICB partnerships.
Dr Edward Bosonnet, Medefer’s Primary Care Director, said: “We have spent years building remote, consultant-led services that reach people wherever they are. Bringing that to dementia means someone worried about their memory can get expert assessment and advice far sooner, and a clear answer they can act on. That early clarity is what changes things for people and their families.”
Head Diagnostics is a Trinity College Dublin medtech spin-out, headquartered at NovaUCD in Dublin. Founded in 2018, the company specialises in digital neurodiagnostic solutions to detect cognitive decline, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and concussions.
The company is an Enterprise Ireland-supported venture. Cepta Duffy, Head of Lifescience and Healthtech at Enterprise Ireland, said: “Head Diagnostics is an excellent example of the innovative companies emerging from Ireland’s medtech sector. By applying advanced digital technology to support earlier cognitive assessment, the company is helping address a significant healthcare challenge. This collaboration with Medefer has the potential to improve access to specialist assessment and provide earlier clarity for patients and their families. Enterprise Ireland is proud to support Head Diagnostics as it continues to scale internationally and bring innovative Irish healthcare solutions to global markets.”
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