Development of a neurofeedback wearable device to measure mental state
Innovate UK
Huru Ltd
Public attitudes towards mental health are improving, and there is a growing commitment among communities, workplaces, schools and within government to change the way we think about it. Influential ambassadors such as Princes William and Harry have worked to normalise talking about mental health.    The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, a landmark moment, published in February 2016, set out a clear and unarguable agenda for the reform of mental health care in the UK. We believe we can help this agenda, improving the outcomes and wellbeing but also tackling the wider costs of mental ill health to the health service and society as a whole.    Research in this area has accelerated dramatically in recent years. Neuroscience and psychology disciplines are increasingly interconnected, leading to deeper understanding of both mechanism and real word application of interventions; improving the efficiency of where and how to focus future research and treatment.    Leading scientific influencers are also transforming communication of the latest research into consumer focussed protocols, shortening the cycle between discovery and widespread accessibility.    Whilst the above developments are promising there is a need to support those with mental health conditions today. One in four adults experiences at least one diagnosable mental health problem in any given year. People in all walks of life can be affected, including new mothers, children, teenagers, adults and older people. Mental health problems represent the largest single cause of disability in the UK. The cost to the economy is estimated at £118 billion a year -- roughly the cost of the entire NHS. As a society we are more stressed than every before, a study in 2018 by the mental health foundation found that 74% of UK adults have felt so stressed they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope in the past year. We want to support these individuals with personalised brain health data that can help them to achieve better overall mental health.    We are developing a neurofeedback device and associated algorithms that provides real time and longitudinal insight into various aspects of a persons cognitive function. The data provides the user (and/or care team) with insight into the effect of the user's activities on cognitive function and/or long-term brain health. This will open up self-care through personalised insights into the things that help most and research into the long term impact of lifestyle factors on brain health in the general population.
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