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The Nottingham spinout improving brain scans to detect dementia
20 January 2025
University of Nottingham spin-out company Cerca Magnetics is using quantum technology to develop wearable brain scanners that could help detect early signs of dementia
Cerca has pioneered the rapid development of a new type of brain scanner that uses quantum technology to measure magnetic fields above the scalp.
In 2024, the company was backed by a £2m investment from the UK government as part of a £45m support package for the quantum sector. The wearable OPM-MEG system uses small LEGO-brick-sized optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) to measure the brain’s magnetic field, which have been incorporated into a lightweight helmet that allows people to move freely during scanning.
The innovative design means the system can be adapted to fit anyone, from newborns to adults, and sensors can be placed much closer to the head, dramatically enhancing data quality. Cerca was spun out from University of Nottingham research in 2020.
The UK government support will be used to install a system at the Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity where it will help enhance our understanding what happens to the function of the brain in people with dementia, which could lead to developing methods for earlier diagnosis and treatment.
