Robot-assisted Cognitive Training for Lonely Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study will use a socially assistive robot to deliver cognitive training in the form of a music (piano) learning intervention to socially isolated older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

Detailed Description
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Cognitive training has been shown in past research to improve cognitive function in older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment. Music learning has been previously shown to be a particularly effective form of cognitive training: in addition to the cognitive demands of learning notation, hand positioning, coordination and timing, those who engage in music learning also benefit from emotional connection to the music and social engagement with a music teacher. Not all older adults are able to access music lessons. Older adults who are homebound, live in rural areas and do not have access to reliable transportation (or a monthly income with sufficient funds for recurring payments for lessons) are unlikely to be able to access these benefits. Socially assistive robots that can deliver both education and companionship on an ongoing basis within the home environment may be a viable solution to these limitations. The purpose of this study is to deliver cognitive training in the form of a music (piano) learning intervention to older adults who are socially isolated, and who may be able to benefit from the cognitive training aspects of the intervention. A socially assistive robot will deliver the intervention.

Official Title
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Robot-Assisted Cognitive Training for Socially Isolated Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Conditions
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Aging, Cognitive Change, Cognitive Impairment, Mild

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Piano Training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Be able to speak, read and write in English with a high degree of fluency Cumulative music learning experience < 3 years Able to sit upright for two hours at a time Able to see images on a screen at a distance of approximately 20 inches Must have independent transportation to and from the Institute of Gerontology, weekly, for 27 weeks No hearing impairment beyond what is correctable via hearing aid Must have a safe location in the home to store and use an 88-key keyboard + stand and piano bench No more than mildly cognitively impaired: global deterioration scale no higher than 2-3; Clinical Dementia Rating Scale no higher than 0.5 (sum of boxes) Must have a close companion, family member or loved one who can attend the first and last visit Must be capable of providing informed consent (based on responses to questions on study purpose, tasks, benefits, incentives and risks). Must have a computer or tablet that is connected to broadband internet, to be used three times over the course of the study Must have access to an e-mail account that can be checked three times during the study Exclusion criteria: No previous diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or related dementias No condition that limits movement of the hands or fingers

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Older adults with mild cognitive impairment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Socially Assistive Robot Intervention<br>Piano training intervention led by a semi-autonomous socially assistive robot | Behavioral: Piano Training<br>* Cognitive training via music learning<br>|
| Active Comparator: Content Only Intervention<br>Piano training intervention using the same curriculum displayed on a computer monitor, without the socially assistive robot tutor. | Behavioral: Piano Training<br>* Cognitive training via music learning<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Verbal Memory Test | Correct hits + Correct passes + Correct hits after 30-minute delay + Correct passes after 30-minute delay; higher score is better; items remembered from a word list that also contains distractors | 6-months | 
| Visual Memory Test | Correct hits + Correct passes + Correct hits after 30-minute delay + Correct passes after 30-minute delay; higher score is better; images remembered from an image list that also contains distractors | 6-months | 
| Non-Verbal Reasoning Test | correct responses - commission errors; higher score is better | 6-months | 
| Shifting Attention Test | correct responses - errors; higher is better | 6-months | 
| Stroop Test | [Simple RT < (Complex RT Correct *0.1)+Complex RT Correct] AND [Complex RT Correct < ( Stroop RT Correct *0.1)+Stroop RT Correct] AND (Complex Correct > Complex Errors) AND (Stroop Correct > Stroop Errors) | 6-months | 
| Continuous Performance Test | CPT Correct Responses >= 30 AND CPT Correct Responses > CPT Commission Errors | 6-months | 
| Symbol Digit Coding Test | SDC Correct Responses >= 20 AND Correct Responses > Errors | 6-months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Technology Acceptance - TAM3 | higher sore = greater acceptance | 6-months | 
| DeJong Loneliness Scale | Higher scores indicate more severe loneliness | 6-months | 
| NASA TLX | Measures workload; higher score = more work | 6-months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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cognitive training, socially assistive robotics, music learning