Helping People with Dementia Manage Medications Using Smart Dispensers

Preventing Medication Mismanagement in People Living with Dementia through Automated Medication Dispensing with Facial Recognition and Video Observation

NIH-funded research Hido Technologies, INC. · NIH-11196749

This project is creating a smart medication dispenser with facial recognition and video to help people with dementia take their medicines correctly and stay safely at home.

Quick facts

Grant typeSbir 2 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionHido Technologies, INC. NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (El Dorado Hills, United States)
Project IDNIH-11196749 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many people living with dementia struggle to manage their medications, which can lead to serious health problems and hospital visits. This project aims to solve this challenge by developing the HiDO-ALZ platform, an automated medication dispenser. The device uses artificial intelligence, facial recognition, and video observation to make sure medications are taken on time and correctly. Our goal is to reduce medication errors, ease the burden on caregivers, and help individuals with dementia live independently at home for longer.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for future involvement would be individuals aged 21 and older living with Alzheimer's disease dementia who experience challenges with medication management.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have dementia or who do not struggle with medication adherence may not directly benefit from this specific technology.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this technology could significantly reduce medication errors, decrease emergency room visits and hospital admissions, and improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their caregivers.

How similar studies have performed: While automated dispensers exist, this project introduces advanced AI-driven facial recognition and direct video observation for enhanced adherence, representing a novel approach to a persistent problem.

Where this research is happening

El Dorado Hills, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.