Robot-Assisted Cognitive Training for Socially Isolated Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Project Summary Abstract This project will develop a Socially Assistive RobotSARto provide cognitive trainingin the form of learning to play the pianoto improve cognitive functioning and reduce feelings of loneliness in socially isolated older adultsThe SAR will administer cognitive training via guided practice on a set of standard piano lesson tasks designed to reflect particular cognitive functionsmemoryattentionlanguageand social acuityThe goals of this project are that the SAR willengage the persons with mild cognitive impairmentPMCIin skill building cognitive music trainingenhance cognitive functioningin particular verbal and visual memoryreasoning abilityand complex attentionandreduce feelings of lonelinessThis SAR can be used as both a personalized social companion and an interactive tutor to deliver customized training for cognitive functioning and social engagementWe have assembled a strong multidisciplinary team of computer scientistsroboticistsengineershuman factors specialistsneuroscientistsand gerontologistswell suited to achieve goals Project Narrative Dementia is a costly chronic diseasean estimated $billion was spent infor health carelong term careand out of pocket expensesFurthermoresocial isolation is a problem many older adults facewithinolder adults reporting loneliness in the United StatesSocially assistive roboticsSARshave the potential to provide mental and social engagementespecially for those older adults who may lack social connectionsIn particularSARs can utilize machine learning to provide customized and socially engaging cognitive training for lonely older adults with MCI