Dutch electronics giant Philips and Irish medtech Head Diagnostics collaborate on what could be a game-changer for millions facing Alzheimer’s and dementia worldwide.
Irish medtech company Head Diagnostics has signed an exclusive global license agreement with Philips for a novel digital cognitive assessment platform, marking a significant advancement in early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
The Dublin-based company, headquartered at NovaUCD, announced the agreement on July 16, 2025. The platform will be rebranded as HDx Cognition and is designed to enhance clinicians’ ability to detect cognitive decline at the earliest possible stage when new treatments may be most effective.
“We envision a future where every person rightfully has immediate and affordable access to early and comprehensive brain health screening”
The licensing deal positions Head Diagnostics in the global billion-dollar digital cognition health assessment industry, offering AI-powered tools that could transform how cognitive disorders such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and psychiatric conditions are detected and managed in primary care and neurology settings.
Critical need for early diagnosis of dementia
The urgency of this development is underscored by global health statistics. Over 55m people worldwide live with dementia, with this number expected to reach 139m by 2050. The worldwide cost of dementia is estimated at $1.3trn and continues to grow rapidly each year, according to Alzheimer’s Disease International.
Alzheimer’s disease, the most frequent type of dementia, is characterized by abnormal protein buildup in the brain that forms plaques and tangles, damaging nerve cells. Recently approved and upcoming neuroprotection therapies for Alzheimer’s disease represent a turning point in treatment, particularly when diagnosed early.
David van Zuydam, CEO of Head Diagnostics, emphasised the critical need for accessible early diagnosis.
“As cognitive impairment and dementia continue to affect millions globally, early and accessible diagnosis remains a critical unmet need. Following today’s announcement, Head Diagnostics will now integrate HDx Cognition, a clinically validated and normed cognitive and mental health testing platform, into our growing portfolio of neurotechnology solutions, empowering primary care physicians, neurologists, and hospitals to detect cognitive decline as well as mental health conditions early, accurately, and efficiently,” van Zuydam said.
He noted the particular urgency in countries including the USA, UK, France, Italy, South Korea, and Japan, which are focused on improving early detection capabilities.
“With HDx Cognition we are equipping clinicians with a clinically validated and reimbursable digital cognition tool that fits seamlessly into existing workflows, all based entirely on existing known paper-based tests enabling earlier intervention, patient monitoring and superior patient outcomes, right at the point of care,” van Zuydam added.
The HDx Cognition platform offers versatile deployment options. The test is performed on an iPad and can be used in primary care settings, hospitals, memory clinics, homes, and community settings such as pharmacies and wellness centers. This broad accessibility helps democratize neurology by making advanced cognitive testing available to more people earlier in their care journey, regardless of geography or referral access.
For patients with early mild cognitive impairment, the platform provides options to modify lifestyles or pursue recently approved neuroprotection therapies.
Beyond cognitive testing, HDx Cognition supports validated mental health assessments, including the GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale) and PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire for depression). These tools help clinicians identify and monitor common mental health conditions, enabling a more comprehensive view of brain health.
Head Diagnostics plans to expand HDx Cognition’s capabilities by integrating additional AI and machine learning features, remote monitoring, and multimodal data including speech, brainstem measurement, handwriting, and neuroimaging to support more personalized cognitive and mental health care.
“This acquisition is not just about technology, it’s about impact,” van Zuydam concluded. “We envision a future where every person rightfully has immediate and affordable access to early and comprehensive brain health screening, and every clinician has the tools to act swiftly, especially in this new era of transformative therapies.”
Main image: David van Zuydam, CEO, Head Diagnostics. Photo: Paul Sharp/SHARPPIX
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