A contactless bed sensor using artificial intelligence can detect early signs of infection in people with dementia, potentially preventing severe illness and reducing hospital admissions, researchers report.
How the Sensor Works
The system, placed under a mattress, monitors overnight changes in heart rate and breathing patterns. AI analyses the data to identify unusual patterns and alerts caregivers if red flags arise. Infections are a leading cause of hospitalisation for dementia patients, who often struggle to communicate symptoms.
Study leader Dr Magdalena Kolanko, an NHS doctor and clinical research fellow at the UK Dementia Research Institute, said: “This study is important because it shows that health changes linked to infection may be picked up passively at home, without asking people living with dementia or frail older adults to wear or manage a device. That matters because wearable technology can be uncomfortable, easy to forget, or hard to use over long periods. This technology is cheap, and therefore easily scalable.”
Clinical Trial Results
The technology was tested through MinderCare, a home monitoring service run by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Some 180 people living with dementia contributed more than 25,783 nights of monitoring data. The system first learned each user’s usual physiological patterns, then looked for changes from that individual baseline. If an infection risk score rose above a set threshold, an alert was sent to the monitoring team.
Around one in three high-risk alerts were confirmed as acute infections, and half of the alerts were linked to a clinically relevant health event. The AI correctly identified around six in ten people who had a respiratory infection, while correctly ruling out infection in almost nine out of ten people who were well.
Impact on Care
Dr Kolanko emphasised the technology would not replace medical professionals but could “act as an early warning tool”. She added: “It may help care teams decide when someone needs a closer check, while they are still at home, preventing the severe consequences of undetected infections, such as increased confusion, falls, and an escalation of care that leads to avoidable hospitalisations.”
Dementia costs the NHS around £2.7bn per year, with emergency admissions accounting for about 90% of the total. Almost two thirds of emergency admissions for people with dementia are for avoidable illnesses.
Funding and Future
The research was funded and supported by the medical research charity LifeArc, in partnership with the UK Dementia Research Institute. Sam Barrell, LifeArc’s chief executive, said minor illnesses caused by infections can quickly escalate and “lead to hospital admission, a loss of independence, and significant distress for families.” She added: “Technology that can detect subtle changes before symptoms become obvious could give families and healthcare professionals a valuable opportunity to intervene earlier.”
The findings will be presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in London this week.
Patient Experience
Manuel Melim, 87, who developed early-onset dementia after a brain bleed in 2024, used the sensor. He said: “We were then given the opportunity to use an under‑bed sensor. At the beginning, we were somewhat sceptical. We underestimated the ability of this small, discreet device sitting underneath my mattress. Over time, it proved to be astonishing. The sensor was able to detect changes in my health and alert the team, who in turn notified my granddaughter.”
The system picked up on early signs of infection, feeling unwell, or pain on numerous occasions, allowing earlier treatment. Manuel added: “Over the past two years, this system has helped me tremendously and has even prevented several hospital visits, as issues were identified early. This technology has given all of us great reassurance and peace of mind.”
