# Robot-Assisted Cognitive Training for Socially Isolated Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

> **NIH NIH R42** · APPLIED UNIVERSAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION · 2020 · $1,981,401

## Abstract

This project will develop a Socially-Assistive Robot (SAR) to provide cognitive training, in the form of learning
to play the piano, to improve cognitive functioning and reduce feelings of loneliness in socially-isolated older
adults. The SAR will administer cognitive training via guided practice on a set of standard piano lesson tasks
designed to reflect particular cognitive functions: memory, attention, language, and social acuity. The goals of
this project are that the SAR will (1) engage the persons with mild cognitive impairment (PMCI) in skill-building
cognitive music training; (2) enhance cognitive functioning, in particular verbal and visual memory, reasoning
ability, and complex attention; and (3) reduce feelings of loneliness. This SAR can be used as both a
personalized social companion and an interactive tutor to deliver customized training for cognitive functioning
and social engagement. We have assembled a strong multidisciplinary team of computer scientists, roboticists,
engineers, human factors specialists, neuroscientists, and gerontologists, well suited to achieve goals.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9991722
- **Project number:** 5R42AG060800-03
- **Recipient organization:** APPLIED UNIVERSAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Jenay M Beer
- **Activity code:** R42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,981,401
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-15 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9991722

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9991722, Robot-Assisted Cognitive Training for Socially Isolated Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (5R42AG060800-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9991722. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*