Tackling Dementia Digitally

Olera Inc., a Texas A&M University student-created startup, is striving to build an oasis for caregivers of people living with dementia through an app offering personalized support and resources. The company’s chief operating officer, Dr.  Logan DuBose '22, is a former medical student at the Texas A&M School of Medicine and holds an MBA from Mays Business School.  

Through a $2.3 million Small Business Innovation Research award from the National Institutes of Health, Olera will develop its existing app platform based on a novel dementia care personalization algorithm, conduct a feasibility assessment, and evaluate its effectiveness across three different minority and ethnic populations in Texas.  

Olera is partnering with the Texas A&M Center for Population Health and Aging, which will analyze and support the app’s academic validation. Dr. Marcia Ory, a Regents and distinguished professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the School of Public Health, is a principal faculty member at the center and served as DuBose’s mentor during his days in Aggieland.

“The abundance of information out there can make already complicated situations overwhelming for family caregivers, especially when dealing with financial or legal issues,” Ory said. “Having a personalized app can help caregivers address their specific questions and concerns, hopefully reducing their stress and fostering better communication with their family members.”