Agent-based Memory Prosthesis to Encourage Reminiscing (AMPER)

由于战后婴儿潮人口和预期寿命的延长，老年群体是人口增长最快的部分。神经系统的改变在老年人群中很常见，包括阿尔茨海默病（AD）和其他痴呆症。AD患者往往会因为沟通问题和自信心的丧失而变得孤僻和抑郁。然而，阿尔茨海默氏症患者的记忆丧失是按时间倒序发生的，因此，即使在疾病发展的过程中，一些长期记忆仍然可以获得。AMPER的主要技术挑战是开发一种具有新颖的类似人类的自传式记忆模型的代理，该模型通过讲述故事来鼓励人们在现实社会环境中使用个性化的生活经历存储库进行回忆。AMPER将应用以用户为中心的设计与AD个人和他们的照顾者创建这样一个代理。这将为个性化回忆提供护理辅助干预，讲述故事并将驻留在大脑中仍然可行的区域的记忆带到表面。该项目将收集代际相关和个人相关的多媒体资料，并根据代理人的自传体记忆进行整理和重组。它将测试图形和桌面机器人代理的可接受性和有效性。自传式记忆提供了“自我”的反映，使个人能够重温一件事。通过建立通往独特生活经历的技术桥梁，并帮助回忆，AD个体的价值感、重要性和归属感可能会得到恢复。该项目旨在创造一种有意义的技术，既可访问，又能响应个人不断变化的需求和体验。该项目将与慈善机构体育记忆合作，该机构已经参与了回忆支持，与NHS苏格兰神经进步和痴呆症网络，爱丁堡大学痴呆症预防中心和拉丁美洲痴呆症研究网络合作，组成指导委员会。痴呆症预防中心的合作伙伴克雷格·里奇（Craig Ritchie）也将引入苏格兰痴呆症研究联盟和苏格兰脑健康指导委员会成员。

Older age groups are the fastest growing sector of the population because of the post-war baby boom population and increased life expectancy. Neurological changes are commonly observed in ageing populations including Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and other dementias. AD patients tend to become withdrawn and depressed due to communication problems and loss of confidence. However memory loss in people with AD occurs in reverse chronological order so that pockets of long-term memory remain accessible even as the disease progresses. AMPER's main technological challenge is the development of an agent with a novel human-like autobiographical memory model that tells stories to encourage reminiscing using individualised repositories of life experiences in real-world social contexts. AMPER will apply user-centred design with AD individuals and their carers to create such an agent. This will perform a carer-assisted intervention for personalised reminiscence, telling stories and bringing to the surface memories residing in the still viable regions of the brain. The project will collect both generationally relevant and personally relevant multi-media materials organised and reorganised by the agent's autobiographical memory. It will test the acceptability and effectiveness of both graphical and table-top robot agents.Autobiographical memory provides a reflection of "self" enabling an individual to relive an event. By building a technological bridge to unique life experiences and aiding recollection, an AD individual's sense of value, importance and belonging may be restored. The project aims to create a meaningful technology that is accessible as well as responsive to an individual's changing needs and experiences. The project will work with the charity Sporting Memories, already involved in reminiscence support, with the NHS Scotland Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network, the University of Edinburgh Centre for Dementia Prevention, and the Latin American Network for Dementia Research, forming its Steering Committee. Craig Ritchie, of the Centre for Dementia Prevention partner, will also bring in Scottish Dementia Research Consortium and Brain Health Scotland as Steering Committee members.