Agetech World explores the latest business developments in the world of ageing and longevity.

US$4.5m NIH Funding for senior care technology

Immersive technology company Rendever has secured nearly US$4.5m in grant funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to improve the ageing process through technology-enabled social networks.

The funding includes US$3.8m for the Thrive At Home Program and an additional grant to build a caregiver support network in virtual reality (VR).

The company says the funds will pave the way for Rendever to bring its technology to the large majority of individuals and caregivers who are ageing in place and lacking in structural social support.

This significant investment continues Rendever’s work alongside the University of California in Santa Barbara, and also involves new partnerships with the research organisation RAND and with Right at Home to bring this technology into the home care market.

Together, they will conduct studies to evaluate the effectiveness of VR technology in building relationships across living environments, thereby reducing social isolation, improving mental health, and enhancing overall well-being throughout the ageing lifespan.

At the same time, Rendever will be studying the impact of caregiving tools, including its recent Dementia & Empathy training programme.

With the definition and experience of “home” shifting continually in a way that can disrupt critical social engagement, this initiative has the potential to revolutionise the way seniors experience care and community.

“Our Phase II trial has shown the power of VR to effectively build and enhance family relationships across distances – even across country lines.

“The future of aging depends on technology that effectively reshapes how we experience these core parts of the human experience as we get older,” said Kyle Rand, Rendever’s CEO.

“We know there’s nothing more holistically impactful than our social health.

“Over the next three years, we’ll work across the industry to build the next generation of community infrastructure that delivers real happiness and forges new relationships, all while driving meaningful health outcomes.”

Previous work in this NIH line of research has shown that family members experience a significant reduction in stress and depression after a four-week social intervention in Rendever.

Recent results show that the positive effects of social VR interventions are increased for families navigating dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.

First AI-powered personalised mobile app for brain health and longevity

Digital health company Tolion Health AI has launched its mobile app, Tolion Brain Coach, powered by Tolion AI.

Tolion’s launch makes its AI-powered Tolion Brain Coach free to all, aiming to expand access to proactive brain-health tools based on current neuroscience.

The app provides daily evidence-based tips for cognitive health and lowering dementia risk.

The launch of Tolion Brain Coach introduces Tolion’s advanced science and technology to a broad audience focused on brain health.

“The launch of Tolion Brain Coach introduces Tolion’s advanced science and technology to a broad audience focused on brain health,” said Martin Tolar, founder and director of Tolion Health AI.

“Translating recent research into practical steps helps users prevent cognitive decline, stay mentally sharp, and lead healthier lives. With Tolion, prevention is both possible and personal.”

Tolion Brain Coach integrates AI-based analytics, wearable device data from industry leaders such as Garmin, and a medical knowledge engine to deliver tailored recommendations for cognitive improvement.

The app enables users to take proactive steps for better brain and mental performance through simple, daily actions and combines AI-driven behavioral analytics and integration with wearables, along with a medical knowledge engine to deliver personalised guidance.

“Personalised lifestyle recommendations have the potential to significantly enhance health, well-being, and longevity,” stated Ing. Jaroslav Lískovec, CEO of Tolion Health.

“By focusing on preventive measures, healthcare systems can achieve substantial cost savings and improve patient outcomes.”

Avant Technologies and Austrianova to advance anti-ageing therapies

Biotech company Avant Technologies has announced that its 50/50 joint venture – Klothonova – with Austrianova, has entered into an exclusive agreement with Klothea Bio.

The license agreement grants Klothonova exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialise Klothea Bio’s proprietary Klotho producing cells, encapsulated using Austrianova’s proprietary Cell-in-a-Box technology, for the treatment of diseases and conditions in humans and animals.

Under the terms of the agreement, Klothea Bio – a Delaware-based biotechnology company specializing in Klotho protein research and therapeutic applications – provides Klothonova access to a proprietary Klotho generating cell line.

Klotho, often referred to as the “longevity protein,” has demonstrated significant potential in combating key drivers of ageing such as cellular senescence and chronic inflammation.

The collaboration aims to accelerate the development of regenerative and anti-ageing therapies that target the cellular mechanisms underlying longevity and chronic disease, positioning Klotho-based treatments at the forefront of next-generation anti-ageing innovations.

Under the agreement, Klothonova will leverage this technology in conjunction with Austrianova’s proprietary Cell-in-a-Box encapsulation platform to encapsulate Klothea’s genetically modified cell line that overexpresses Klotho proteins.

This aims to create encapsulated, implantable therapies capable of sustained, localized delivery, enhancing safety and efficacy for applications in regenerative medicine and disease prevention.

Diligent Robotics selected for AgeTech Collaborative from AARP Accelerator Program

Diligent Robotics has been accepted into the AgeTech Collaborative from AARP accelerator, an eight-week programme designed to elevate promising early-stage AgeTech startups.

To date, Diligent Robotics has powered over 1.25 million deliveries of medications, lab samples, and medical supplies across leading hospitals and health systems including Northwestern Medicine, Providence Saint John’s Health Center, and Rochester General Hospital.

Its flagship mobile manipulation platform Moxi navigates complex, crowded, human environments to free staff for more high-value clinical tasks instead of locating supplies.

The company’s entry into senior care comes as the sector faces rising labour shortages, with 18 million expected to exit this field by 2040 just as additional 2.5 million jobs will be created.

The AgeTech Collaborative from AARP accelerates innovation in technologies that improve how we age.

Through its participation, Diligent Robotics will receive direct go-to-market support and will focus on product discovery to identify where assistive robots like Moxi can have the most impact for older adults.

Through this expansion, Diligent Robotics says it will also be able to continue pushing forward physical AI progress.

AI-Powered resident care launches

Senior care company MorseLife Health System is transforming how its residents connect with services, provide feedback, and experience daily life through its voice-first AI companion, Malka AI.

Since Malka AI was first implemented in October 2025, it has eliminated about 80 calls to the concierge desk, freeing staff to focus on personalised service while improving response times.

Keith Myers, president and CEO of MorseLife, said: “The integration of Malka AI is a testament to MorseLife’s continued commitment to innovating for and enhancing the lives of our residents.

“By turning real-time insights into action, it allows our teams to respond with speed and precision while deepening the connection between residents and staff. We’re proud to be setting a new standard for excellence in senior living.”

Developed with input from over 13,000 participants a new, AI-powered, speech and language software has the potential to speed-up dementia diagnoses, whilst reducing the cost.

Memory Tell stems from the work of neuroscientist Adolfo Garcia, Co-founder of the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), who, for the last 15 years, has been investigating dementia, digital-biomarkers.

In tandem with Northern Ireland-based, fellow GBHI member Corrina Grimes and materials science engineer Fernando Johann, they launched Memory Tell in August last year.

Speaking to Agetech World Ms Grimes said: “The 2024 Lancet Commission outlined that by addressing 14 modifiable risk factors 45 per cent of dementias are potentially preventable.

“Memory Tell shifts the dial in this regard by helping clinicians move from subjective to objective measurements in diagnosing dementia.”

How does it work?

Dementia diagnoses can be invasive, expensive and time-consuming with some people in the UK having to wait up to two years for clarity on the nature of their condition.

There are a number of methods available to clinicians which include memory tests, brain scans or lumbar punctures.

Memory Tell integrates speech and language-analysis technology to deliver a rapid, objective, and evidence-based assessment for clinicians.

It operates through an algorithm, accessible by a personal computer, with 10 short speech tasks which are analysed for the users pitch, tone, rate of speech, and pauses; their vocabulary, and how it changes over time.

Users are initially asked to describe, in as much detail, a typical day. Then on to questions about the uses of items, such as a ‘car with flat tyres’, and then re-telling the story of a video they have watched.

Ms Grimes said: “Examining people’s speech and language patterns is a much less-intrusive way of providing insights into brain function; the feedback has shown that this is a far more dignified and accurate method of diagnosing dementia.

“People can find the existing pen and paper memory tests very challenging because there may be a question they cannot answer which leaves them feeling embarrassed and humiliated.

“Everyone has their own experience of going to memory clinics. Perhaps, how difficult it is when asked questions with right or wrong answers. Memory Tell is a much better, more dignified approach, one where there’s no right or wrong answers.”

Award success

The platform has been trained with input from 13,000 participants, consisting of those with validated dementia diagnoses, and healthy volunteers. It is currently available in five languages, with more coming on stream.

It is currently being trialled in 12 different research centres in Ireland and New Zealand with the aim of securing the European CE ‘Conformité Européenne’ mark.

This process is expected to take 18 months and cost in the region of £500,000 and once secured will permit Memory Tell access to clinics across the continent and the UK.

Memory Tell has the potential to save time and money as it can be carried- out under the supervision of a technician freeing-up clinical capacity and reducing bottlenecks in a health care system.

Ms Grimes continued: “It aligns perfectly with the NHS focus of hospital to community, analog to digital, and primary to secondary and tertiary prevention.

“The policy makers, clinicians, health service managers and commissioners we speak to are very excited about Memory Tell and this and this bodes well as we look to commercialise the platform.”

The company recently secured £25,000 after winning the annual INVENT awards which showcase new entrepreneurial talent in Northern Ireland’s science and technology sector.

Ms Grimes has worked in the health care system most of her professional life as a clinical dietitian across specialties, including palliative care, and later as National Deputy Director at NHS England.

She is also an Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health with GBHI, which was has borne out of the generosity of Irish retail entrepreneur Chuck Feeney, who gave away US$8bn to charity during his life

The GBHI supports the University of California, San Francisco, and Trinity College, Dublin, in a mission to ‘reduce the scale and impact of dementia and improve brain health worldwide’.

Ms Grimes added: “Chuck Feeney’s final big bet was to create this fellowship. This was where Adolfo and I met. Adolfo was working on the algorithm in a research setting and our task now is to bring this into frontline health services.”