Humanoid Therapy Robot for Encouraging Exercise in Dementia Patients

Dementia is a growing problem amongst elderly adults and the number of dementia patients is predicted to rise considerably in the coming years. While there is no cure for dementia, recent studies have suggested that exercise may have a positive effect on the cognitive function of dementia patients. We propose that a humanoid therapy robot is an effective tool for encouraging exercise in dementia patients. Such a robot will help address problems such as cost of care and shortage of healthcare workers. We have developed an interactive robotic system and conducted preliminary tests with a robot that encourages a user to engage in simple dance moves. The heart rate is used as feedback to decide which exercise move should be demonstrated. The results we have found are promising and we hope to continue this work via future studies.