Hi-tech socks track dementia sufferers’ early signs of distress

“SMART socks” which track sweat levels, heart rate and motion are being given to dementia patients to alert carers if they are becoming distressed.

The unintrusive technology was developed by Dr Zeke Steer, of Bristol University, whose own great-grandmother often became anxious and aggressive because of her dementia.

Dr Steer wanted to find a way to spot the early warning signs of distress so that carers or family members could intervene with calming techniques, so he quit his job as a software engineer in the defence industry to study wearable technology. The hi-tech hosiery use electronic textiles to transmit data in real time to an app that alerts carers when stress levels are rising.

The team chose socks because older people often find other kinds of wristworn wearables uncomfortable and stigmatising. “The foot is actually a great place to collect data about stress, and socks are a familiar piece of clothing,” said Dr Steer, of Bristol Robotics Laboratory, who founded the company Milbotix to develop the footwear.

The socks are being trialled among mid to late-stage dementia patients, but researchers think they will also help people with autism. Fran Ashby, a manager at Garden House care home in Bristol, said: “Modern assistive technology examples like smart socks can help enable people living with dementia to retain their dignity.”

Natasha Howard-murray, of the Alzheimer’s Society, which is helping to fund the development, said: “This innovative wearable tech is a fantastic, accessible way for staff to better monitor residents’ distress and agitation.”

Milbotix is hoping to bring the product to market next year.