A groundbreaking dementia care app developed on the Isle of Man is rapidly gaining international acclaim for its innovative approach to supporting people living with dementia. Memory Lane Games, a clinically approved and scalable technology, is improving wellbeing and sparking meaningful connections for users in over 100 countries each month.
Built by a dedicated six-person team and powered by artificial intelligence, Memory Lane Games was created with support from a grant by the Isle of Man Department for Enterprise, local investors, and the Island’s vibrant tech community. The app recently featured in Google Play’s prestigious 2025 global #WeArePlay campaign, which spotlights the world’s most impactful apps. It was also awarded the John Hopper Impact Award, recognising its unique contribution to dementia care through gamified reminiscence and AI-driven engagement.
Founded by former gaming executive Bruce Elliott, Memory Lane Games uses nostalgic prompts transformed into simple, joyful games designed to encourage conversation and improve cognitive wellbeing. The app’s extensive library of over 3,800 games covers themes such as music, food, holidays, and hometown memories. In the past month alone, it has logged hundreds of hours of play globally.
Memory Lane Games is also backed by research from the Isle of Man’s first-ever clinically approved dementia trial. The original code was developed in 2019 by a local 19-year-old programmer, highlighting the Island’s nurturing environment for tech talent and innovation.
Looking ahead, the Isle of Man government continues to champion health tech innovation, with upcoming initiatives focused on health and social care. Memory Lane Games exemplifies the kind of real-world impact that the Island’s tech ecosystem strives to achieve.
Key Highlights:
- Memory Lane Games is actively used in over 100 countries, with thousands of nostalgic games facilitating meaningful social interaction.
- The app is featured in Google Play’s 2025 #WeArePlay campaign, highlighting the most influential global apps.
- Developed and scaled using AI, with strong support from the Isle of Man’s tech community and government grants.
- Selected by the Mayo Clinic for their 2023 MedTech Accelerator Program, placing it among nine leading medical device and healthcare technology innovators.
- On May 15th, 2025, Arizona State University launched an observational study in the US to assess the app’s impact on maintaining cognition in people living with dementia.
