Cambridge Cognition announces wearable tech partnership

Cambridge Cognition was reaching out to a new frontier in the world of wearable technology on Tuesday, announcing a new partnership with London-based design and research agency Ctrl Group for the creation of products for use in mental health applications.

The AIM-traded company, which specialises in cognitive assessment technologies, said the partnership would produce novel digital health applications with prototype products expected in the latter half of 2016.

Under the terms of the partnership, digital health products were being designed and developed, enabling near-user cognitive testing on wearable and smart devices, the company said.

More meaningful cognitive data would enable healthcare practitioners to detect mental health risk factors earlier, reduce the likelihood of relapse and, by tracking daily activity, help individuals to better understand and manage their cognitive health.

Cambridge Cognition likened it to the way wearable technology such as Fitbit had enabled individuals to better understand and manage their physical health.

The firm said the technology would prove useful for pharmaceutical makers as well, through understanding the real-world impact of interventions to support clinical trials of drug development candidates and marketed treatments for chronic diseases.

"We are excited to be advancing our healthcare technologies into new products with partners who have synergistic technical skills to meet the growing needs of our pharmaceutical customers and address large non-clinical markets," said Cambridge Cognition CEO Dr Steven Powell.

"The move to near-user cognitive measures on consumer electronics marks a significant step for Cambridge Cognition in realising the company's aim to become the world leader in cognitive healthcare technologies," he added.

Ctrl Group co-founder Ben Fehnert said there was major advantage in being able to understand cognition in daily life through wearable and smart technologies.

The new range of products would be licensed initially to pharmaceutical partners and healthcare providers, through relationships established by both Cambridge Cognition and Ctrl Group.