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

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: National Institutes of Health
Contract: 1R42AG060800-01
Agency Tracking Number: R42AG060800
Amount: $347,146.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: NIA
Solicitation Number: PAR17-107
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2017
Award Year: 2018
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2018-09-15
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2019-08-31
Small Business Information
23875 CHESTNUT DR
Loretto, MN 55357-9536
United States
DUNS: 080808144
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 JENAY BEER
 (404) 308-4523
 jenay.beer@uga.edu
Business Contact
 PAUL GIBSON
Phone: (612) 470-9532
Email: pgibson@applieduniversaldynamics.com
Research Institution
 UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
 
TUCKER HALL 310 EAST CAMPUS RD ROOM 409
ATHENS, GA 30602-1589
United States

 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

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

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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