In March 2025, the Adult Social Care Accelerator welcomed six startups from South Korea to London – including Silvia Health. For founder Myungjin Ko and her team, it was a chance to connect directly with UK communities and care providers, understand the needs of the UK’s aging population and explore how Silvia could make a meaningful impact here.
By 2040, an estimated 1.4 million people will be living with dementia in the UK. Currently, around a third of those affected remain undiagnosed. While there is no cure, research shows that regular brain training, staying physically active, and taking a more holistic and proactive approach to manage your cognitive health can have a significant preventative impact.
Silvia Health is a South-Korean based startup helping to bridge the gap through accessible, proactive digital solutions. Silvia’s cognitive wellness application is designed to reduce dementia risks, targeting individuals from 50+ with an interest in maintaining their cognitive health. The application enables users to:
- Play interactive brain exercises for cognitive enhancement
- Undertake a speech-based memory assessment
- Personalised wellness programs
- Data-driven cognitive exercises based on individual needs
Following her own experience caring for a relative with dementia, founder Myungjin Ko (MJ) created Silvia to offer an engaging and easy-to-use digital solution for people living with the condition. Her goal was to develop a platform filled with activities users would enjoy and return to—activities that not only entertained but also provided meaningful cognitive stimulation. Already popular in South Korea, MJ brought Silvia to the UK to explore how it could support an aging population facing similar challenges.
Usability testing day
In March, we hosted a usability testing day at the Independent Living Agency’s centre in Dagenham, inviting local residents to discover more about dementia prevention and experience Silvia firsthand.
Some participants joined a focus group led by Silvia’s founder, MJ, where they discussed practical lifestyle changes to support cognitive health and tested a range of brain games available in the app. Others took part in one-on-one sessions with MJ, offering more detailed feedback and sharing their thoughts on the platform.
These sessions gave MJ valuable insight into how UK users might engage with Silvia—highlighting opportunities for localisation, such as adapting terminology, game preferences, and user onboarding experience. Silvia received a fantastic response from participants, with most sharing how much they enjoyed the brain exercises. By the end of the session, many participants signed up for a 4-week trial, unlocking premium features and gaining the opportunity to explore Silvia’s full potential.
The usability day provided MJ invaluable, firsthand insight into the UK market and how some individuals in this community approached cognitive health management. The feedback they received highlighted the key elements of the application that may need to be adapted to thrive in this market.
But the day was about more than just product feedback—it was a meaningful community-building experience. Participants connected with one another and the Silvia team, exploring innovative solutions they could continue using from the comfort of their own homes. For many, it was an opportunity to test a solution at an early-stage, that has potential to make a real difference in their lives or the lives of those they care for.
Connecting with care providers
While in the UK, MJ also had the opportunity to engage with the Primary Care Network, gaining valuable insight into the UK health and care system and clarity on potential prescribing pathways. In addition, MJ connected with a UCL researcher whose work closely aligns with Silvia’s approach. They shared a mutual belief in the value of holistic, multi-faceted cognitive care—and the potential impact of digital solutions. These discussions were essential in identifying potential avenues for expansion and broadening MJ’s understanding of the UK’s health and care landscape.
Looking ahead
What’s next for Silvia? With participants now enrolled in a 4-week trial, the team will soon begin reviewing results to track user progress and identify opportunities to refine the app based on insights gathered during their time in London. Looking ahead, they’ve set an ambitious goal: to reach 5,000 users by the end of the year – the app is already available for download on the App Store!
In addition, Silvia has plans to return to the UK for further testing and is in early discussions to conduct a clinical trial in partnership with UCL—marking an exciting next step in their journey to bring proactive cognitive care to more people.
About the Adult Social Care Accelerator
As our over-65 population continues to expand and more of those individuals face chronic conditions that require long-term care, the UK care system faces increased pressure. We believe that technology can help ease this crisis by helping elderly people stay independent for longer and by reducing the burden on carers.
The Adult Social Care Accelerator is an innovation accelerator that tests new technologies from around the world with a network of forward-thinking care providers. The Accelerator scales the most impactful solutions across the care ecosystem by connecting corporates, local authorities, and the communities we serve.