Socially Assistive Robots for Interaction With Older Adults With Dementia

DreamFace Technologies, LLC22 enrolled

Overview

A 12-month pilot study will be comprised of two groups of people diagnosed with mild Alzheimer's disease and related dementia for a total of 80 senior subjects. Subjects will be randomly assigned to two groups: Group 1 users will play games with and administered by Ryan, 2-3 times a week and 30-minutes per day. Group 2 (Active Control Group) will play solitary games and activities but will have to interaction with Ryan. The team will measure the changes and improvement in the social/emotional well-being of these two groups and eventual changes in the cognitive/memory functions of elderly people living in the similar environment.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria * Age ≥ 65 years * Early Alzheimer's disease and related dementia diagnosed by a qualified provider * Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) score between 10 and 25 * Resident of assisted living facility for at least one month prior and for the duration of the study * Deemed conditioned enough to participate in physical activities after a wellness check * Verbal skill to interact * Participant or Legal decision Exclusion Criteria: Aggressive behavior * Diagnosed with severe dementia or memory loss * Acute physical illness that impairs ability to participate * Patients with serious comorbidity, tumors and other diseases casually related to cognitive impairment * History of alcohol or drug abuse, head trauma, psychoactive substance use and other causes of memory impairment * Significant sensory impairment

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Cognitive/Memory Ability

Participants will complete the Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) test, a screening method for Alzheimer's and other dementia. Scores range from 0 to 30. Scores of 27 to 30 are considered normal in a person with a high school education. Scores between 21 and 26 suggest a mild neurocognitive disorder. Scores between 0 and 20 indicate dementia.

Time frame: assessed at baseline (week 1), week 4, and 8. Week 8 reported.