AI-CONECT: A Conversational AI for Early Dementia Prevention in Socially-Isolated Older Adults Based on the Efficacy-Proven I-CONECT Study
Massachusetts General Hospital
Summary
This randomized controlled trial examines the mechanisms of conversational AI-based interventions for early dementia prevention in socially isolated older adults.
Description
Social isolation is a well-established and modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. The completed I-CONECT trial (NCT02871921) showed that frequent, one-to-one, semi-structured conversational engagement delivered remotely by trained human interviewers improved cognitive outcomes among socially isolated older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Two limitations have constrained translating that approach into a scalable preventive intervention: its reliance on trained human interviewers limits scalability, and the behavioral mechanisms responsible for its cognitive benefits r…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 75+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 75+ * Clinical diagnosis of MCI, or MMSE ≥ 24 or MoCA ≥ 18 (i.e., early MCI) * Identified as socially isolated by at least one of the two criteria: (1)score ≤ 12 on the 6-item Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6); (2) engages in conversations lasting 30 minutes or longer, no more than twice per week, per subject self-report * GDS-15 (15-item Geriatric Depression Scale) at/below 9 (not severely depressed). * Social self-efficacy mean ≤ 8 (on the 0-10 scale) across the 6-item Social Self-Efficacy Scale at screening, indicating low confidence in social interaction. * A…
Interventions
- BehavioralAI-based conversational intervention
AI-based one-on-one semi-structured conversation for cognitive stimulation
Location
- Massachusetts General HospitalBoston, Massachusetts