New service aims to give people worried about their memory an earlier route to dementia assessment

Pictured at Head Diagnostics' headquarters at NovaUCD in Dublin is David van Zuydam, Chief Executive Officer, Head Diagnostics.

 


Medefer and Head Diagnostics are developing a new service that will combine a digital cognitive test with remote, consultant-led specialist care, giving people concerned about their memory a clearer, earlier route to assessment.

This initiative was supported by a grant from Eisai Ltd. Eisai had no influence or involvement other than the financial support.

Medefer, a CQC-registered, consultant-led healthcare provider, and Head Diagnostics, an innovator in digital brain health and cognitive assessment, are developing a new dementia assessment service for people who are worried about changes in their memory. It will combine a comprehensive digital cognitive test battery with consultant-led specialist care to support earlier diagnosis, and is supported by grant funding from Eisai. The announcement is timed to coincide with the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2026 in London, which runs from 12th to 15th July.

Many people who notice changes in their memory want a clear answer sooner, and people under 65 can find assessment harder to access. The service will apply Medefer’s established experience in remote-first, technology-supported care, delivered to more than 170,000 patients, to dementia assessment for the first time. It will be self-funded and can be accessed directly, without a referral, and Medefer and Head Diagnostics are developing it as a new model that they aim to widen over time.

Medefer will lead the service as the clinical partner, overseeing the clinical pathway and its delivery. It is being designed in two parts. The first is a memory assessment built around the Head Diagnostics HDx Cognition platform, which includes a digital cognitive battery clinically validated against established paper-based assessments, available at the cognition clinics or, with support, at home, with consultant oversight and advice on whether further assessment is right for the person. People will then have the option, through a remote, consultant-led service, to go on to a formal diagnosis of dementia, with blood tests, an MRI brain scan and a test for Alzheimer’s disease where relevant. The service covers assessment and diagnosis only. The first cognition clinics are being established, and Medefer and Head Diagnostics will build on the initial learnings to expand the service.

Medefer will also integrate dementia coordinator support, giving people and their families wider support to understand a diagnosis and access practical help, advice and local services.

Quotes

“We have spent years building remote, consultant-led services that reach people wherever they are. Bringing that to dementia means someone worried about their memory can get expert assessment and advice far sooner, and a clear answer they can act on. That early clarity is what changes things for people and their families.”

Dr Edward Bosonnet, Primary Care Director, Medefer Ltd

“HDx Cognition brings clinically validated digitised cognitive testing into everyday settings, enabling earlier identification of Mild Cognitive Impairment before symptoms become entrenched. By detecting subtle cognitive changes at the point of first concern, we help ensure patients reach expert review sooner. We are pleased to work with Medefer to turn that earlier insight into prompt, specialist-led answers.”

David van Zuydam, Chief Executive Officer, Head Diagnostics

“As a company focused on dementia, we believe that earlier and more accurate diagnosis is critical so that patients and their families have more time to prepare for the future. We are delighted to support Medefer and Head Diagnostics with grant funding to help make it possible.”

Pam Ganju, Vice President, Specialist Care Business Group, Eisai

“Head Diagnostics is an excellent example of the innovative companies emerging from Ireland’s medtech sector. By applying advanced digital technology to support earlier cognitive assessment, the company is helping address a significant healthcare challenge. This collaboration with Medefer has the potential to improve access to specialist assessment and provide earlier clarity for patients and their families. Enterprise Ireland is proud to support Head Diagnostics as it continues to scale internationally and bring innovative Irish healthcare solutions to global markets.”

Cepta Duffy, Head of Lifescience and Healthtech, Enterprise Ireland

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Notes to editors

About Medefer

Medefer is a CQC-registered, consultant-led healthcare provider delivering both NHS and private services. Founded by NHS clinicians in 2013, it provides digitally enabled outpatient care through a remote-first national workforce. Medefer has helped more than 170,000 patients across 25 NHS trust and ICB partnerships. It holds a CQC rating of Good and is certified to ISO 27001, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Find out more at medefer.com.
 

About Head Diagnostics

Head Diagnostics is a medtech innovator focused on brain health and cognitive assessment, headquartered at NovaUCD, Belfield Innovation Park, Dublin. Its HDx Cognition platform is a clinically validated, cloud-based digital neuropsychological assessment used to support the detection and assessment of neurological conditions including mild cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Find out more at headdiagnostics.com. Head Diagnostics is exhibiting at AAIC 2026, stand 1216.
 

Media enquiries

Medefer: information@medefer.com. Head Diagnostics: hdxcognition@headdiagnostics.com.