Evaluating the User Experience and Therapeutic Efficacy of Humanoid Socially Assistive Robots in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) Care.

BACKGROUND

Addressing neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) requires scalable, non-pharmacological interventions. This study evaluated the user experience and clinical efficacy of a humanoid Socially Assistive Robot (SAR) in an ADRD care setting.

METHODS

A randomized, 8-week, baseline-controlled intervention was conducted (N=19), utilizing each participant's pre-intervention status as the control. Outcomes included acute mood change, sustained depressive symptoms via the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and user acceptance via the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ).

RESULTS

The SAR achieved "Excellent" UEQ ratings (x > 2.0) across all dimensions, indicating high accessibility and engagement. Analysis revealed a significant acute positive mood boost (p < 0.001) and a sustained reduction in GDS scores over 8 weeks compared to baseline. A strong correlation existed between robotic stimulation and clinical GDS improvement (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Humanoid SARs are highly accepted and efficacious adjunctive tools for improving emotional health in ADRD populations, supporting their integration into formal dementia care protocols.