A pilot of Ayla, a digital platform to let staff deliver NICE recommended Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) quickly and safely, has shown remarkable improvements in cognitive outcomes for care home residents living with dementia.
The pilot saw a 47.8% improvement in overall cognitive function amongst the residents who participated in the CST sessions using the Ayla platform, offering new hope for scalable, non-drug dementia care.
The pilot, conducted in partnership with Southcare Homes Group across two of its homes in South London and East Sussex, involved residents with mild to moderate dementia participating in twice-weekly CST sessions. CST is the leading non-pharmacological dementia therapy recommended by NICE, SCIE and the WHO, clinically proven to delay cognitive decline by 4–6 months.
Key Outcomes
- Recognition & memory improved by 56.5%
- Planning and action improved by 66.3%
- Task switching improved by 48.3%
- Communication and understanding improved by 42.3%
- Mood & resilience scores rose from 3.7 to 4.2 (out of 5)
- Quality of life scores increased from 1.98 to 2.65
Residents and families reported enhanced social connection, engagement, and emotional well-being. One family member shared, “Dad’s short-term memory is slightly better, and he remembers my son’s name. He’s also more sociable and positive.”
A Vision for Scalable Dementia Care
With 75% of care home residents affected by dementia or cognitive impairment, the need for scalable, consistent therapies is urgent. Ayla’s digital platform reduces barriers to CST delivery, halving preparation time and enabling consistent care across settings.
Karim Nanji, Proprietor of Southcare Homes, praised the pilot: “Introducing Ayla has been groundbreaking… This needs to be rolled out nationwide, yesterday!”
Leadership in Innovation
At the forefront of this initiative is Devika Wood, CEO of Brain+, an Innovator on this year’s Dementia Innovators Programme from NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme and the Alzheimer’s Society.
She reflected on the pilot’s success: “This report doesn’t just represent numbers, it represents people, progress, and the tangible difference that innovative dementia care can make every single day.”
About Ayla
A unique new technology, Ayla was developed by Brain+ to help to level-up access to CST for people living with dementia in care homes, as Ayla:
- Ensures delivery of consistent high-quality CST.
- Is a cost-effective way to deliver CST – Significantly easier and quicker to plan sessions.
- Package containing CST training and 180 prepared sessions offers a value-add evidence-based activity that can now be delivered by more homes.
Looking Ahead
With 982,000 people in the UK currently living with dementia—a number projected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040—the results of this pilot offer a compelling case for adoption of CST solutions like Ayla. The collaboration between Brain+, Southcare Homes, marks a significant step forward in improving quality of life for those affected by dementia.