Top-funded digital health companies offering lifestyle interventions for dementia prevention: Company overview and evidence analysis

Abstract

AbstractBackground and objectiveDementia prevention has been recognized as a top priority by public health authorities due to the lack of disease modifying treatments. In this regard, digital dementia-preventive lifestyle services (DDLS) emerge as potentially pivotal services, aiming to address modifiable risk factors on a large scale. This study aims to identify the top-funded companies offering DDLS globally and evaluate their clinical evidence to gain insights into the current state of the global service landscape.MethodsA systematic screening of two financial databases (Pitchbook and Crunchbase) was conducted. Corresponding published clinical evidence was collected through a systematic literature review and analyzed regarding study purpose, results, quality of results, and level of clinical evidence.FindingsThe ten top-funded companies offering DDLS received a total funding of EUR 128.52 million, of which three companies collected more than 75%. Clinical evidence was limited due to only nine eligible publications, small clinical subject groups, the absence of longitudinal study designs, and no direct evidence of dementia prevention.ConclusionThe study highlights the need for a more rigorous evaluation of DDLS effectiveness in today’s market. It serves as a starting point for further research in digital dementia prevention.