Evaluating the Health Benefits of Jigsawdio: A Novel Multisensory Jigsaw Puzzle-based Intervention for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

PROJECT SUMMARY There is recent interest in creating novel interventions that improve the cognitive abilities and mental health of persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs). Based on the cognitive and mental health benefits that are associated with puzzle activities, our research team designed and developed Jigsawdio, an audiovisual jigsaw puzzle that creates meaningful moments for people living with dementia (PLwD). This device is designed to provide them with customized, individualized puzzles involving a personalized, low-tech, easy-to- use, and mentally and tactile stimulating frame interface. Personalized photos, stories, and music are used to create functional puzzles capable of replaying audio recordings upon completion of the overall puzzle design. By working with Dr. Junhyoung Kim (Co-PI), at Texas A&M University (TAMU), we completed a study to assess pre- and post-intervention effects of Jigsawdio use after six weeks among PLwD in Phase I project. Our qualitative study was designed to capture the benefits and challenges associated with the use of the Jigsawdio program among PLwD, caregivers, and facility staff. Our study identified three salient themes that were reported as positive outcomes by participants: (a) enhancing mental acuity (i.e., sharpness and focus), (b) improving emotional health, and (c) experiencing mindfulness and relaxation. The findings of this study present qualitative evidence that PLwD can gain cognitive and mental health benefits from using Jigsawdio. In addition, our research team also gained significant knowledge of the requirements for the commercialization of our Jigsawdio puzzle. Extensive customer interviews and working experiences with family members of PLwD motivated the team to continue improving the Jigsawdio program's usability by improving the interactive app software for family members to use to create puzzles. Hence, our specific aims of this Phase II SBIR proposal are to 1) improve the experience of using Jigsawdio software to create puzzles by family members and to play by users, and begin producing a transparent version of Jigsawdio, and 2) assess the efficacy of participation in a Jigsawdio program in persons with late-stage mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild-to-moderate ADRD using a randomized, two- arm, parallel study design. To facilitate the adoption of Jigsawdio, we have created a new version that employs modular, transparent puzzles that can be deployed on the existing electronic device of users (e.g., Android tablet, iPad, etc.), ultimately lowering costs, providing support tools to users, and allowing unlimited ability to immediate access various puzzles. The success of our Phase II project will allow us to finalize the design of the Jigsawdio software systems and obtain commercializable Jigsawdio products. The results of the proposed clinical trial will provide evidence of health benefits to support the adoption of the Jigsawdio program by PLWD. Our future work in a subsequent Commercialization Readiness Pilot project will be focused on 1) reducing the manufacturing cost of the transparent Jigsawdio product and 2) integrating multiple language support into Jigsawdio (e.g., English, Spanish, Mandarin) to allow easy access to families from diverse language backgrounds. 1