Summary:
Dr. Christina Chen is developing technology to enhance the lives of dementia patients.
Hope Technologies aims to integrate familiar tools for better patient care.
The Wonderwall screen provides visual cues and controls the environment for dementia patients.
Hope Technologies officially launched in 2024 and won the Ignite Cup Pitch Competition.
The goal is to improve the quality of life for dementia patients today, not just wait for a cure.
Transforming Dementia Care with Technology
ROCHESTER — While the quest for a cure for dementia continues, Mayo Clinic geriatrician Dr. Christina Chen is pioneering a way to enhance the lives of dementia patients through technology.
“My area of passion is dementia care. We've known about this disease for almost 120 years, but we have no cure. ... So it got me thinking, if a cure does not exist, what can we do to bring better days to these people living with dementia?” — Dr. Christina Chen
Dementia, including Alzheimer's and Lewy Body, affects many, with research indicating that one in three people reaching age 85 will develop the condition. Families face the daily challenge of caring for loved ones who struggle with cognitive decline.
The Birth of Hope Technologies
To address these challenges, Dr. Chen, alongside her husband Aaron Chan, Dr. Marina Walther–Antonio, and Kathy Anderson, founded Hope Technologies. Their mission is to integrate familiar tools like pictures, calendars, and music into a cohesive system to help maintain calm and orientation for dementia patients.
“It's all in silos and pieces now. Music here and automated lighting there. It's never been put together in one cohesive space.” — Dr. Chen
A New Approach: Health Optimized Personal Experience
Hope Technologies aims to create a customizable automated system that enhances daily life for long-term dementia patients. The prototype, developed during a research project, demonstrated the potential for coordinated technologies to support patient care.
The centerpiece of their system is the “Wonderwall” screen, which provides visual cues, displays daily schedules, shows pictures of loved ones, plays comforting music, and controls environmental factors such as lighting and temperature.
“This is to augment treatments to bring a better quality of life, hopefully reduce risks and improve their day-to-day.” — Dr. Chen
From Concept to Reality
With a successful proof of concept under their belt, the focus shifted to transforming the idea into a marketable product. Dr. Chen admitted,
“As just a clinician, I never thought I'd end up in the space of entrepreneurship.”
They participated in Mayo Clinic’s Employee Entrepreneurial Program and the Collider business incubator, which provided essential support and guidance.
In 2024, they officially established Hope Technologies and won first place at the 2025 Ignite Cup Pitch Competition. Currently, they are collaborating with technology partners to develop the software necessary for their system.
Looking Ahead
The next goal for Hope Technologies is to launch a working version of their system by this summer, with plans to showcase it at the Destination Medical Center’s demo space. Their ultimate aim is to deploy this system in memory care facilities, particularly for patients with advanced dementia.
Dr. Chen remains optimistic about the future of Hope Technologies, emphasizing the importance of improving lives today rather than waiting for future breakthroughs.
“We want to create something that makes life better today versus somewhere off in the future.”
Comments