Effects of long-term use of communication robots on elderly patients with dementia

Abstract

We carried out a robot-assisted activity (RAA) using a communication robot to examine the effect of alleviating behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in elderly individuals with dementia. We examined 10 elderly individuals with dementia. Following the usual 3-month care period, we established a 3-month RAA period. Measurements were taken before and after the usual care period and after the RAA period. We measured salivary cortisol and resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) before and after RAA, in addition to the Dementia Behavior Disturbance (DBD) score, which was considered an indicator of BPSD. Our results did not reveal any significant differences in DBD-scores and salivary cortisol during each of the three measurement points. The resting-state EEG of post-RAA showed a significantly higher alpha/beta Pz power-ratio on after the RAA period than before and after the normal care period. Three months of RAA may exert a relaxing effect on elderly individuals with dementia.