Edinburgh researchers have been tasked with creating an artificial intelligence system that will help people with dementia.
The National Robotarium, which includes scientists from both Heriot-Watt and the University of Edinburgh are creating the AI robot that will aid memory recollection and help with stress caused by memory loss.
The ground-breaking project is being worked on in partnership with Strathclyde after a funding package of £450,000 was awarded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
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The 'Agent-based Memory Prosthesis to Encourage Reminiscing' or AMPER for short, will focus on personalised storytelling to help bring a patient's memories back to the surface.
Memory loss in people with Alzheimer's disease occurs in reverse chronological order, with pockets of long-term memory remaining accessible even as the disease progresses. While most care methods focus on physical aids and repetitive reminding techniques, AMPER's AI-driven approach will target a new aspect of rehabilitation.
Dr. Mei Yii Lim is co-investigator of the project and an experienced memory modelling researcher. They explain: "AMPER will explore the potential for AI to help access an individual’s personal memories residing in the still viable regions of the brain by creating natural, relatable stories. These will be tailored to their unique life experiences, age, social context and changing needs to encourage reminiscing."
With difficulties in communicating with others and decreased confidence commonly experienced by people living with dementia, the AI method to aid memory recollection is being designed with the hope that an individual's sense of value, importance and belonging can be restored and quality of life improved.
Professor Ruth Aylett from the National Robotarium is leading the research. She said: "One of the most difficult aspects of living with dementia can be changes in behaviour caused by confusion or distress. We know that people can experience very different symptoms that require a range of support responses. Current intervention platforms used to aid memory recollection often take a one-size-fits-all approach that isn’t always suitable to an individual’s unique needs."
"AI technology has the potential to play a pivotal role in improving the lives of people living with cognitive diseases. Our ambition is to develop an AI-driven companion that offers patients and their caregivers a flexible solution to help give an individual a sustained sense of self-worth, social acceptance and independence."
Once developed, the AI technology will be accessed through a tablet-based interface to make it more widely accessible and low-cost. The research team at the National Robotarium plans to separately investigate the use of a desktop robot to determine if there are benefits to be gained by having a 3D representation of a character.
