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Can novel technology help people in earlier stage Alzheimer’s remain independent and safe in their homes?
Nathalie Bier, Ph.D.
University of Montreal
Montreal, Canada
Background
As dementia progresses, an individual will gradually lose the ability to carry out vital daily tasks — tasks that enable them to remain independent. One such task is meal preparation. Cooking meals often requires an array of procedures that people with declining brain health are unable to recall without assistance. Loss of memory in the kitchen not only prevents individuals from feeding themselves properly it also puts them at risk for burns and other kitchen-related accidents. Individuals with Alzheimer's who do not have access to caregivers, could benefit from a technology for helping them carry out kitchen tasks safely and effectively. To date, however, no such cooking assistant technology exists for people with early-stage Alzheimer's.
Research Plan
Dr. Nathalie Bier and colleagues will produce a voice-based assistive kitchen technology for people with Alzheimer's or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition of subtle memory loss that often leads to Alzheimer's. First, they will study the cooking habits of participants with Alzheimer's or MCI. This work, conducted in the participants' homes, will identify key difficulties encountered during meal preparation. The researchers will then determine the best verbal prompts for aiding the cooking process and promoting safety among these individuals. Next, Dr. Bier's team will have a second group of participants — including five people with Alzheimer's and five with MCI — test an existing kitchen assistant technology within a laboratory setting in the presence of six caregivers and five clinicians. Using results from both participant groups, the investigators will develop a refined assistive device tailored specifically for people with Alzheimer's or MCI.
Impact
The results of this study will shed new light on how the progression of Alzheimer's impacts an individual's ability to complete daily tasks. They will also identify a cost-effective technology that can be adapted over time for individuals who progress from MCI to the more advanced stages of Alzheimer's. Such adaptability could better help people with dementia, remain independent — both delaying their admission to a health care facility and reducing the overall impact on the caregiver.
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