Mon, 08 Dec 2025

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 Japan is facing a dementia crisis – can technology help?

Elderly people aged 65 and over now make up nearly 30% of Japan's population.

* Over 18,000 older people with dementia left their homes and wandered off in Japan last year.
* Almost 500 were later found dead.
* Such cases have doubled since 2012.
* Elderly people aged 65+ make up nearly 30% of Japan's population.
* Dementia-related health and social care costs will reach $90bn by 2030.
* Japanese government has signalled a stronger pivot toward technology to ease the pressure.
* GPS-based systems are being used to track those who wander, with some regions offering wearable GPS tags.
* Technologies aim to detect dementia earlier, such as Fujitsu's aiGait which uses AI to analyse posture and walking patterns.
* Researchers at Waseda University are developing a humanoid robot designed to be a "future" caregiver.
* Robots can help patients with daily tasks, monitor patients at night, and cut back on the need for humans doing the rounds.
* Emotional support robots, such as Poketomo, can remind users to take medication and offer conversation to ease social isolation.
* Human connection remains irreplaceable, and robots should supplement, not substitute, human caregivers.
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