The use of socially assistive robots in the design of intelligent cognitive therapies for people with dementia

TLDR

The global older population is growing faster than the overall population, with the number of people over 85 projected to triple by 2050, creating a rising need for physical, emotional, and cognitive support. The study aims to introduce an adaptive socially assistive robotic system that delivers personalized motivation, encouragement, and companionship to individuals with age‑related cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s disease. The system employs socially assistive robotics to adaptively tailor a help protocol, delivering motivation, encouragement, and companionship to users. The system successfully engaged patients, sustaining their interaction with the robot and enhancing positive behaviors.

Abstract

Currently the 2 percent growth rate for the world's older population exceeds the 1.2 rate for the world's population as a whole. By 2050, the number of individuals over the age 85 is projected to be three times more than there is today. Most of these individuals will need physical, emotional, and cognitive assistance. In this paper, we present a new adaptive robotic system based on the socially assistive robotics (SAR) technology that tries to provide a customized help protocol through motivation, encouragements, and companionship to users suffering from cognitive changes related to aging and/or Alzheimer's disease. Our results show that this approach can engage the patients and keep them interested in interacting with the robot, which, in turn, increases their positive behavior.