Japan is leveraging digital solutions to tackle dementia

Dementia cases are rising rapidly worldwide. According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) 2023 report, over 55 million people globally are living with dementia, with nearly 10 million new cases emerging each year.

In Japan, the Ministry of Health and Welfare estimates that 5.23 million people will be affected by dementia by 2030. This figure is expected to keep growing as the population ages. Additionally, the number of people with mild cognitive impairment — a condition considered a precursor to dementia — is estimated to reach 5.93 million by 2030. Combined, these figures mean that over 11 million people, nearly 10% of Japan's population, could be affected by cognitive decline.

The WHO also warns of dementia’s significant economic impact, with global economic loss in 2019 reaching approximately $1.3 trillion, around half of which is borne by family members and close friends providing care. In Japan, one of the major challenges is finding adequate support for dementia patients, especially as the number of elderly people living alone is estimated to rise.

With the rise in dementia cases, Japan enacted the Basic Act on Dementia to Promote an Inclusive Society on January 1, 2024. This law defines the responsibilities of national and local governments to create an environment where people with dementia and their families can live with dignity, backed by comprehensive support.

While welcoming the growth of private dementia care solutions, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan launched the Orange Innovation Project. This project supports the development of products based on an accurate understanding of dementia and promotes participatory development, where users actively collaborate with companies to co-create products and services that genuinely meet their needs.

One example is the Help Tablet Project by LIMNO, a company that manufactures tablet devices and communication equipment. The project team held a series of meetings with dementia patients in Tottori City, where the company is headquartered, to gather insights from those who could benefit most from the technology. Based on these conversations, they designed a tablet to help with the daily challenges faced by dementia patients. The prototypes are now being developed into tablets with features including item locators, medication reminders and creative tools for drawing.

Yuichi Kimura, the company’s president, believes that the insights gained through these sessions will contribute to product innovation and help foster a more inclusive society for people living with dementia.

With an ageing population and increasing labour shortages, digital technology is playing a growing role in dementia care. One key area is patient monitoring. The issue of wandering and ensuring the safety of dementia patients has become critical, as highlighted by the report of 19,039 dementia patients going missing in Japan in 2023.

Kakogawa City in western Japan, in collaboration with a technology company, has introduced a system that allows family members to check the location of the patient using an app, BLE tags and 'Mimamori Cameras,' or safety monitoring cameras, set at various spots around the city. For elderly dementia patients, the system is provided at no cost, as Kakogawa City covers the service fees.

Enazeal Corporation, a web solutions provider, has developed LYKAON, a system that employs facial recognition technology inside nursing facilities to prevent unauthorized exits and reduce incidents of wandering outside. LYKAON helps significantly ease the burden on caregivers and families by providing an effective solution for tracking and alerting in cases where patients might leave their care facility or home.

Beyond supporting people after a dementia diagnosis, it’s essential to promote awareness of dementia risks and to encourage regular cognitive checkups even before symptoms appear. Recently, digital tools have become valuable for raising awareness and proactively supporting cognitive health.

In 2022, Sanda City in western Japan launched the Touch de Brain health check, a game-like brain assessment tool available on tablets and smartphones. This initiative encourages residents to consider brain health in the same way they do physical health. The system uses the NOU-KNOW app developed by the pharmaceutical company Eisai. This app connects users to consultation services and dementia prevention programmes based on their results. Similarly, Shizuoka City in central Japan has partnered with the startup FOVE to incorporate its virtual reality-based Cognitive Function Self-Checker into dementia prevention programmes, further expanding digital resources for cognitive health.

In Japan, where an ageing population and labour shortages are growing concerns, digital solutions designed with the needs of dementia patients in mind are playing a crucial role. These innovations help ease the burden on caregivers and contribute to an environment where patients and caregivers can live with dignity. The World Economic Forum recently announced a major milestone in the global fight against Alzheimer’s Disease through the Davos Alzheimer’s Collective. Initiatives such as these and further efforts based on public-private partnerships are key to a more inclusive society.