Talk-to-Jo" Intelligent Digital Health Companion, Neurocognitive Disorders and Dyads

Launched by OLIVIER BEAUCHET · Sep 19, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The "Talk-to-Jo" clinical trial is exploring how a digital health companion, designed as a virtual avatar, can help older adults living with neurocognitive disorders (like Alzheimer's) and their caregivers. The goal is to provide support for both the patients and their caregivers, who often face stress and burnout due to the challenges of caregiving. By using this technology, researchers hope to improve the quality of life for these individuals while making healthcare more accessible, especially in areas where resources are limited.

To be eligible for this trial, participants must be 65 years or older, have a diagnosed neurocognitive disorder (in a mild to moderate stage), and live in their own home or a non-medicalized senior residence, along with having a caregiver. Both the older adult and their caregiver must be able to understand spoken and written French, as the "Talk-to-Jo" companion currently only communicates in that language. Participants will interact with the digital avatar, which will ask questions about their memory and mood, and provide personalized recommendations for support. By joining this trial, both patients and caregivers will have the opportunity to engage with innovative technology aimed at enhancing their daily lives and overall well-being.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• 1. Person living with an neurocognitive disorder (NCD):
• 1. Inclusion criteria:
• • Be 65 years old or older.
• • Have an NCD, whether minor or major, in a mild to moderate stage, diagnosed within the past year.
• • Be receiving care for an NCD at the outpatient clinic of the Montreal Geriatric University Institute.
• • Have a caregiver.
• • Live in a personal residence or in a non-medicalized senior residence.
• • Be able to understand spoken and written French. The "Talk-to-Jo" avatar has only been developed in the French language and can only communicate and understand French.
• 2. Exclusion criteria:
• • Inability to provide informed consent for participation in the study.
• • Participating in a concurrent experimental clinical study, to avoid interference with our study.
• • Living in a Long-Term Care Facility or in a medicalized section of an non-medicalized senior residence.
• • Inability to understand spoken and written French.
• • Having a moderate to severe visual or auditory impairment. The criterion for assessing hearing impairment will be the person's ability to understand and participate in a phone conversation. Individuals with impairments who use hearing aids or glasses to compensate for the impairments may be included.
• • 2. Caregiver
• 1. Inclusion criteria:
• • Be a caregiver for a person living with an NCD (regardless of the relationship: spouse, child, friend, neighbor, family member).
• • Be able to understand spoken and written French.
• 2. Exclusion criteria:
• • Have an NCD.
• • Inability to understand spoken and written French.
• • Participating in a concurrent experimental clinical study, to avoid interference with our study.
• • Having a moderate to severe visual or auditory impairment. The criterion for assessing hearing impairment will be the person's ability to understand and participate in a phone conversation. Individuals with impairments who use hearing aids or glasses to compensate for the impairments may be included.