Prema Cognition raises £550,000 to expand early dementia detection

By AI, Created 5:20 PM UTC, May 19, 2026, /AGP/ – Prema Cognition has closed an oversubscribed £550,000 funding round led by SFC Capital to validate and scale PREMAZ, its digital memory test designed to spot cognitive changes years before traditional tools. The Cambridge-derived company is already in 30+ clinics across the UK and US and plans to present new data at AAIC in London this July.

Why it matters: - PREMAZ is designed to detect subtle memory changes years before a formal dementia diagnosis, which could open a wider window for earlier intervention. - The funding comes as disease-modifying dementia therapies increasingly depend on finding patients earlier in the disease process. - Earlier detection could also support research, clinical screening and broader brain health prevention efforts.

What happened: - Prema Cognition closed an oversubscribed £550,000 funding round led by SFC Capital. - The company originally aimed to raise £500,000 and exceeded that target because of investor demand. - The London-based digital health company develops technology for early dementia detection. - The company will present at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in London this July.

The details: - The new capital will help expand clinical datasets to further validate the technology. - The funding will also support progress toward regulatory pathways. - Prema Cognition plans broader deployment across healthcare and research settings. - PREMAZ is a digital cognitive testing platform developed from a decade of research at the University of Cambridge Memory Lab. - PREMAZ is already deployed in 30+ clinics across the UK and US. - The company was co-founded by Dr Julia Cooney, MD, and commercial lead Cameron Kirkpatrick. - Dr Julia Cooney was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list this year. - The company’s scientific and clinical advisory group includes Dr Helena Gellersen, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge. - The advisory group also includes Dr Ravi Badge, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist who advises on clinical pathways and contact sport populations. - Dr Badge has supported athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and holds leadership roles within BOSTAA and the British International Doctors Association. - The funding round included follow-on investment from existing backers and new strategic angels. - Investors include Jasbir Singh, Steve Hartman, Keith Williams and Yin Chao Lee. - The investor group spans pharma, biotech, enterprise software and longevity. - Jasbir Singh is a Basel-based serial entrepreneur with more than 35 years of experience across enterprise software and life sciences. - Steve Hartman is a former general counsel and head of M&A at a NYSE-listed life sciences leader. - Keith Williams is a biotech entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience across pharma and SaaS. - Yin Chao Lee is a Singapore-based longevity investor focused on preventative healthcare technologies.

Between the lines: - The investor mix suggests Prema Cognition is trying to build both clinical credibility and commercial scale at the same time. - The Cambridge research connection and the clinic rollout point to a strategy of turning academic memory research into a usable screening tool. - The company is positioning PREMAZ as a tool for a market that may expand as therapies shift toward earlier-stage treatment.

What’s next: - Prema Cognition will use the funding to add more clinical data and push through regulatory steps. - The company is continuing to expand use of PREMAZ across healthcare and research environments. - Prema Cognition will use the AAIC London appearance to generate and validate more real-world data. - The company says the goal is broader adoption across clinical and research settings.

The bottom line: - Prema Cognition is betting that better early detection, backed by Cambridge research and new capital, can help move dementia care earlier in the treatment timeline. - More information