Japan is facing a dementia crisis – can technology help?

Last year in Japan, more than 18,000 elderly people suffering from dementia fled their homes and went missing. Almost 500 people were later found dead.

Police say such cases have doubled since 2012.

Seniors aged 65 and over now make up almost 30% of Japan's population, the second-largest share in the world after Monaco, according to the World Bank.

The crisis is worsened by a dwindling workforce and tight restrictions on foreign workers coming in to help.

The Japanese government has identified dementia as one of its most pressing policy challenges. The Ministry of Health estimates dementia-related health and social care costs will reach 14 trillion yen (US$90 billion; £67 billion) by 2030, up from nine trillion yen in 2025.

In its latest strategy, the government outlined a stronger pivot to technology to ease the pressure.

All over the country, people are implementing GPS-based systems to track missing people.

Some regions offer wearable GPS tags that can alert authorities the moment a person leaves a designated area.

In some cities, convenience store workers receive real-time notifications, a kind of public safety net that can locate a missing person within hours.

Other technologies aim to detect dementia earlier.

Fujitsu's aiGait system uses artificial intelligence to analyze posture and walking patterns, identifying early signs of dementia – shuffling while walking, turning slowly or difficulty standing – generating skeletal outlines that doctors can view during routine check-ups.

“Early detection of age-related diseases is key,” says Hidenori Fujiwara, a Fujitsu spokesman. “If doctors can use motion capture data, they can intervene earlier and help people stay active longer.”

Meanwhile, researchers at Waseda University are developing AIREC, a 150-kilogram humanoid robot designed to care for children in the “future.”

He can help a person put on socks, cook scrambled eggs and fold laundry. Scientists at Waseda University hope that in the future, AIREC will be able to change diapers for adults and prevent bedsores in patients.

Similar robots are already being used in nursing homes to play music for residents or help them do simple stretching exercises.

They also monitor patients overnight by placing them under mattresses to monitor patients' sleep and condition, and reduce the need for people to attend rounds.

Although humanoid robots are being developed in the near future, Associate Professor Tamon Miyake says the required level of precision and intelligence will take at least five years before they can safely interact with humans.

“It requires whole-body awareness and an adaptive understanding of how to adapt to each person and situation,” he says.

Emotional support is also part of the innovation movement.

Poketomo, a 12 cm tall robot, can be carried in your bag or placed in your pocket. It reminds users to take their medications, provides real-time advice on how to prepare for the weather outside, and offers conversation for those living alone, which its creators say helps ease social isolation.

“We focus on social issues… and use new technologies to solve these problems,” Miho Kagei, Sharp's development manager, told the BBC.

While devices and robots offer new ways to help, human interaction remains indispensable.

“Robots should complement, not replace, human caregivers,” said Mr. Miyake, a scientist at Waseda University. “Although they may take on some tasks, their primary role is to help both caregivers and patients.”

At the Misorder Restaurant in Sengawa, Tokyo, founded by Akiko Kanna, people are flocking to serve dementia patients.

Inspired by her father's experience with the disease, Ms. Kanna wanted to create a place where people could stay involved and feel purposeful.

Toshio Morita, one of the cafe's waiters, uses flowers to remember which table ordered what.

Despite his cognitive decline, Mr. Morita enjoys socializing. For his wife, the cafe provides respite and helps him stay busy.

Cannes Café illustrates why social interventions and community support remain important. Technology can provide tools and assistance, but meaningful engagement and human connections are what truly support people living with dementia.

“Honestly? I wanted some pocket money. I like to meet a variety of people,” says Mr. Morita. “Everyone is different, that’s what makes it fun.”

Additional reporting by Jaltson is chammar