LifeZig System for Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease

项目简介：超过400万美国人患有阿尔茨海默病（AD）。躁动、悲伤、抑郁、焦虑、孤立、不适、困惑和其他负面因素会降低阿尔茨海默病患者的生活质量，并给护理人员带来沉重负担。我们的项目目标是：(1)基于新的LifeZig系统，通过新的TOM-VC干预（Therapeutic Old Memories-Video Channels）来提高AD患者及其家人/照顾者的生活质量；(2)开发易于使用的独立LifeZig系统，允许家庭/护理人员创建/显示个性化的视频频道，包括AD患者的老照片，音乐和旁白；作为阿尔茨海默氏症的回忆疗法我们创新的TOM-VC疗法使用AD患者保留的记忆簇和新颖的技术应用来创造个性化的环境和愉快的时刻。怀旧治疗多媒体通过个性化的电视视频频道呈现给患者，这些视频频道富含积极情绪，基于重要的人生事件、家庭和其他珍贵的记忆。第一阶段证明了可行性：家庭/护理人员认为LifeZig易于使用，他们报告AD患者的健康状况得到改善，躁动现象减少。阿尔茨海默病患者也表现出明显的快乐和兴趣（生活质量提高的有力指标）。在第二阶段，我们将完成LifeZig，并进行一项随机纵向研究来评估治疗效果（对照组：安慰剂视频通道和常规护理）。测量方法：[生活质量]：观察情绪评定量表、老年受试者多维观察量表、NPI；[认知和功能]：简易精神状态测试、ADL和IADL；和[负担]:NPI，照顾者负担量表和修订的记忆和行为问题检查表。拟议的商业应用：LifeZig产品将提供丰富的个性化治疗，以改善越来越多的AD患者的健康状况，并减轻护理人员的负担，预计将通过延迟机构化和增加护理人员的保留来降低护理成本。相关性：Lifezig系统和TOM-VC干预将为阿尔茨海默病提供新的活动和治疗工具，通过显著提高阿尔茨海默病患者的生活质量，减轻护理者的护理负担，为两个不断增长的人群（阿尔茨海默病患者和护理者）带来益处。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Project Summary: Over 4 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease (AD). Agitation, sadness, depression, anxiety, isolation, discomfort, confusion, and other negative factors impose diminished quality of life for AD patients and significant burden for caregivers. Our project goals are: (1) to enhance the quality of life of AD patients and their families/caregivers with the new TOM-VC intervention (Therapeutic Old Memories-Video Channels) based on the novel LifeZig system; (2) to develop the easy-to-use self-contained LifeZig system, allowing family/caregivers to create/display personalized video channels with old photographs of AD patients, music, and narration; as a reminiscence therapy for Alzheimer's. Our innovative TOM-VC therapy uses preserved memory clusters from AD patients and novel technology application to create a personalized environment with pleasant moments. Reminiscence therapeutic multimedia is presented to patients via individualized video channels on television, rich in positive emotions, based upon important lifetime events, family, and other cherished memories. Phase I demonstrated the feasibility: LifeZig was considered easy-to-use by families/caregivers, who reported AD patients' improved well-being and reduced agitation. AD patients also showed a significant level of pleasure and interest (strong indicators of enhanced quality of life). In Phase II, we will finalize LifeZig and perform a randomized longitudinal study to assess the therapy effectiveness (control groups: placebo video channels and usual care). Measures: [quality of life]: Observed Emotion Rating Scale, Multidimensional Observation Scale for Elderly Subjects, and NPI; [cognitive and functional]: Mini-Mental State Exam, ADL, and IADL; and [burden]: NPI, Caregiver Burden Scale, and Revised Memory & Behavior Problems Checklist. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: LifeZig products will provide a rich individualized therapy to improve the well-being of a growing number of AD patients, and decrease the caregiver burden, which is expected to lower the cost of care by delaying institutionalization and increasing nursing staff retention. Relevance: The Lifezig system and TOM-VC intervention will provide new activities and therapy tools for Alzheimer's, bringing benefits to two growing populations (AD patients and caregivers), by significantly enhancing AD patient's quality of life, and decreasing caregiver's burden of care.