Smart socks helping protect people with dementia

A university PHD student has invented ‘smart socks’ which sense when people with dementia and autism are in distress.

Dr Zeke Steer wanted to help after seeing his greatgrandmother suffering with dementia.

The socks, which track heart rate, sweat levels and motion, enable carers to intervene before things escalate.

Dr Steer worked at Bristol Robotics Laboratory to find a solution and develop a mobile phone app.

Current alternatives are worn on wrist straps, which have been found to stigmatise patients or even cause more anxiety.