L2M – ActiMent

Dementia affects over 55 million people globally, with a new case diagnosed every three seconds 1, contributing to annual healthcare costs exceeding $1.3 trillion, including a projected $16.6 billion in Canada by 2031 2. Up to 40% of dementia cases are linked to modifiable lifestyle factors such as sleep and physical activity 3. However, health-conscious individuals lack accessible, scalable tools to proactively manage cognitive health, often relying on costly, invasive clinical assessments like imaging or blood tests that detect issues only after cognitive decline is evident.
The innovation challenge is to develop a practical, data-driven tool that empowers individuals to reduce dementia risk through daily lifestyle adjustments. ActiMent, an Apple Watch app, addresses this challenge by helping user adjust their routines and align with activity patterns associated with better cognitive health. Built on research from over 50,000 participants, ActiMent reveals how specific daily patterns connect to cognitive performance. Unlike fitness trackers or brain games, ActiMent offers actionable, research-driven insights that empower health-conscious users to take meaningful, proactive steps to support long-term brain health. This project aligns with the Lab2Market Validate Health program’s mission to translate health-related research into impactful solutions, moving beyond academic research by validating market potential and developing a commercialization strategy.
Expertise required includes data science and AI to analyze large-scale actigraphy datasets, software development for creating a user-friendly Apple Watch app, and cognitive health research to translate findings into actionable insights. Entrepreneurial skills are also critical to validate market fit and develop a scalable business model through customer discovery and industry mentorship provided by the University of Toronto’s Lab2Market Validate Health cohort.

Faculty Supervisor:

Roger Tam

Student:

Partner:

DMZ Ventures Inc

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: