Cat's meow: Robotic pet boosts mood, behavior and cognition in adults
with dementia
Study tests effectiveness of affordable, interactive robotic pet cats in
an adult day center

Date:
October 27, 2021
Source:
Florida Atlantic University
Summary:
Researchers tested the effectiveness of affordable, interactive
robotic pet cats to improve mood, behavior and cognition in older
adults with mild to moderate dementia. Mood and behavioral symptoms
were measured along with cognition using the Mini Mental State
Examination (MMSE).

Intervention with this robotic cat improved all mood scores over
time, with significant improvements in mood and depression. More
than half of the participants scored higher on the MMSE
post-test than pretest, with slight to moderate improvement in
attention/calculation, language, and registration. The robotic
cats also provided participants with an alternative way to express
themselves.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Individuals with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias (ADRD) often experience behavioral and psychological symptoms such as depression,
aggression and anxiety. Frequently, these symptoms are treated with antipsychotics, antidepressants and benzodiazepines, which often have
side effects.


========================================================================== While pet therapy is known to be a cost effective and therapeutic
intervention for improving mood and behavior in older adults, little
is known about pet therapy in adult day centers, despite logistical
advantages such as socialization and group activities.

With the help of a cuddly and "furry" companion, researchers from Florida Atlantic University's Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing tested the effectiveness of affordable, interactive robotic pet cats to improve mood, behavior and cognition in older adults with mild to moderate dementia. The
non- pharmacological intervention took place over the course of 12 visits
in an adult day center. Participants were informed that their pet was a
robot and not a live animal. Each of them selected a name for their cat,
which was fitted with a collar and a personalized nametag.

For the study, published in the journal Issues in Mental Health Nursing, researchers assessed mood and behavioral symptoms using the Alzheimer's
Disease and Related Dementias Mood Scale, the Observed Emotion Rating
Scale and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia. They also assessed cognition via the Mini Mental State Examination.

Results showed that intervention with a robotic pet cat improved all mood scores over time, with significant improvements in the Observed Emotion
Rating Scale and the Cornell Scale of Depression in Dementia. More
than half of the participants scored higher on the Mini Mental State Examination post-test than pretest, with slight to moderate improvement
in attention/calculation, language and registration. Post-test scores
on the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Mood Scale were six
points higher than pretest conditions.

Researchers frequently observed study participants smiling and talking to
their robotic cats and expressing sentiments such as, "the cat is looking
at me like someone who listens to me and loves me." They believed that
the robotic pet was responding to their statements through meowing,
turning their head or blinking their eyes and that they were having
a conversation with the pet. Several of the caregivers reported that
their loved one had slept with the cat, held onto the cat when sitting
or consistently played with the cat. One participant even slept with
her robotic pet cat while she was hospitalized.

"Since there is no cure for dementia, our project offers a way to address symptoms naturally and without the use of pharmacological treatments,
which may or may not be effective and have possible detrimental side
effects," said Bryanna Streit LaRose, D.N.P., A.P.R.N., lead author
who conducted the study as a doctoral nursing student at FAU, together
with co-authors Lisa Kirk Wiese, Ph.D., R.N., an associate professor
and Streit LaRose's faculty chair, and Mari'a de los A'ngeles Ortega,
D.N.P., A.P.R.N., a professor, director of FAU's Louis and Anne Green
Memory and Wellness Center and Streit LaRose's community chair on the
project, both within the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing.

"Our intervention was affordable, safe, and noninvasive." By using
therapeutic pets instead of live pets, there was no concern about the
safety of the pet, feeding them, taking them outside, or making sure they
are up-to-date with their vaccines. In addition, there were no fears
about participant safety due to possible pet aggression, allergies,
tripping over them and the costs associated with caring for a live animal.

"In addition to improving mood, behaviors and cognition, these robotic
pet cats provided our participants with an alternative way to express themselves," said Wiese. "Importantly, improving overall mood and
behavior in individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias may
also improve quality of life for their caregivers and family members."
The researchers also examined the relationship between the Mini Mental
State Examination and subscale post-intervention scores of the Cornell
Scale of Depression in Dementia, Observed Emotion Rating Scale and
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Mood Scale. They found
multiple significant and strong correlations between the 11 subscales
of the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Mood Scale and Mini
Mental State Examination following the intervention. Nine categories
regarding pleasant mood/behavior correlated favorably with the Mini
Mental State Examination score, indicating a relationship between positive mood/behavior and increased Mini Mental State Examination scores.

"In the United States, one in three older adults dies with Alzheimer's
disease or a related dementia and there is currently no cure for the
rapidly growing burden," said Safiya George, Ph.D., dean, Christine
E. Lynn College of Nursing.

"This therapeutic interactive pet intervention has proven to be a safe alternative method to improving mood and behavior in people with dementia
who are attending an adult day center." FAU's Christine E. Lynn College
of Nursing received the 12 robotic pets for the project with assistance
from an FAU Iota Xi Sigma grant and funding supplementation from Ageless Innovation.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Florida_Atlantic_University. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Bryanna Streit LaRose, Lisa Kirk Wiese, Mari'a de los A'ngeles
Ortega
Herna'ndez. Improving Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms and
Cognitive Status of Participants With Dementia Through the Use
of Therapeutic Interactive Pets. Issues in Mental Health Nursing,
2021; 1 DOI: 10.1080/ 01612840.2021.1979142 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211027122027.htm

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